Peace

It’s that time of the year when emotions can run amok triggered by all the things one would like to accomplish with perfection in mind. Holiday decorating, gift buying, meal preparations and arranging accommodations for visiting out-of-town guests is enough to weigh anybody down to a point of short circuiting and blowing a fuse. I’ve seen it happen more than once in my life only to realize that no matter how perfect one thinks things are going, somebody gets their feelings hurt because your perfection doesn’t fit their mold. All I can say is, do it your way. If things don’t work out find a way to get the biggest complainer to do all the work next year, that’ll learn ‘em. In all seriousness, I hope your plans are all coming together for this holiday season and you enjoy a very merry Christmas and the beginning of a great new year. And as I always try to remind the world, don’t forget the reason for the season. The Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us, bringing the message of peace and saving grace from our Father in heaven. Jesus is the name above all names. He is peace.
A beautiful young girl walked up to the counter in a department store. “I want to buy this fabric for a new dress I’m making as a gift to a friend. How much will it cost?” “Only one kiss per yard” replied the smirking young clerk. “That’s fine” said the girl. “I’ll take ten yards.” With expectation and anticipation all over his face the clerk quickly measured out and cut the cloth. As he held out the package to the girl expecting payment, the girl snapped up the package and pointed to a little old man standing near her and said to the clerk, “Grandpa is paying the bill today.”
In a Christian school, the teacher of a second grade class was attempting to get the students to memorize the names of the twelve sons of Jacob before Christmas break. Bobby came to the front of the room to recite his memory, “Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, Benjamin… Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen.”
A burglar broke into a house to steal Christmas. He shined his flashlight around looking for valuables. Then a voice in the dark said, “Jesus knows you’re here.” He nearly jumped out of his skin, clicked his light off and froze. He heard nothing so continued. As he pulled out the stereo to disconnect the wires, clear as a bell he heard, “Jesus is watching you.” Freaking out he shined his light around looking for the source of the voice. The light rested on a parrot in the corner of the room. “Did you say that?” he hissed at the parrot. “Yup” said he parrot. “I’m just trying to warn you, Jesus is watching you.” The burglar relaxed. “Warn me huh? Who do you think you are?” “Moses”, said the parrot. “Moses” laughed the burglar. “Who names a parrot Moses?” The parrot smugly replied, “The same people that named their Rottweiler, Jesus.”
[Matthew 1: 18-25] Have you ever thought about the tongue wagging that went on concerning Joseph? The Bible says he was a righteous man and Mary was pledged to be married to him. Joseph was most likely planning for marriage, saving some money, having dinner at her parent’s house and getting to know his future wife as they visited and talked about the future. To his surprise, and everyone else’s, Mary is with child. An angel explained everything to Joseph, which he accepted, and took Mary into his home as his wife. As obedient to the Lord as Joseph was, still, think of the ridicule he endured about his first born. Life isn’t always as we dreamed, but God is always peace.