ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

LET US ADORE HIM!  Yes … Christmas is really Someone’s birthday!  It is the celebration of Jesus’ birth, but the  bombardment by the impossible-to-miss retail commercialization of this incredible season – just about blacks out that fact!  Could that be why the day after Thanksgiving is called “Black Friday”?  The lights that shimmer and glimmer all over town – all but dim the sight of the Baby in the manger.  The frenzied hurry-n-scurry for weeks and weeks – just about snuff out any thought of stopping to kneel down and worship the One who came to us long ago under that brilliant Star!  The incessant noise of media announcements and the unending paper pile of advertisements – can easily crowd out the voice of our Lord drawing us to Himself.  The merry-go-round of gift-giving that doesn’t let us stop – nearly flings off any semblance of authentic joy and instead holds people captive when all that keeps on giving is the debt that they unwisely bought into.  How could we have strayed so far from what Christ’s birth is all about?  What should be the most precious Birthday celebration of the year, has forgotten the Honored Guest!  It is high time to jump off the dizzily spinning merry-go-round and say that “enough is enough”!  It is time to turn off the commercial craziness and turn back to the pages of Luke chapter 2 and take in the beautifully recorded event of God’s Son, Jesus.  Amazingly, it was His birth that presented the first opportunity to bring gifts to Jesus.  Did you catch that?  The wise men brought gifts and gave them TO Jesus – not to each other!  Their journey, their full-focus was on Jesus.  Their first glimpse of God’s Son dropped them to their knees in speechless adoration as they bowed before Him first and then presented their precious gifts.  These gifts did not smack of cheap quality or deeply discounted sales.  They were valuable and were given from the depths of their hearts.  Their time and these gifts cost them something – far more than any “I just don’t have a clue what I should give so-and-so” gift!!  You see … so many people give really pricey, expensive gifts to others – and then grab some little item for the needy out of a dollar basket in some remote spot at the end of the store aisle.  And then they can say, “There You go, Jesus - I remembered Your birthday!” and go on their merry way to more parties and family gatherings where they will give to others and receive from them.  What is that?  No honor … no sacrifice … no thought … no celebration of the Honored Guest on His birthday?  Look … was that a tear starting to well up in one corner of His sad eyes?  We definitely would not want to be treated that way on OUR birthday … and yet far too many do just that to Jesus.  Year after year after year.  He’s forgotten – pushed aside.  Celebrations of His birthday go on without Him.  What will WE do this year?  Will we adore Him and present precious gifts to Him?  Will we give ourselves?  Will we offer Him what pleases Him?  Will we touch others for His Name’s sake and put His name on the gift-tag?  “Here, Jesus, this is for You!”  Or will we make His birthday all about us … and exclude the One whose birthday we are celebrating!  I received a text from one of our granddaughters this morning, and I am glued to its message.  This is what she wrote:  “I have been thinking a lot this year ~ and I want to donate my Christmas money this year.  Do you know of any good places to donate …?”   A lump rose up in my throat, a tear welled up in my eye, and my heart nearly burst!  I wanted to shout to the world – all the while knowing that I only needed an audience of One to hear my whisper to Him … “Jesus, she gets it!  She wants to celebrate YOU on Your birthday!”  And if her heart’s desire thrilled me – think how it made Jesus feel!  You see, when we get THIS part right:  the adoration of our King … then any gifts we share with each other will be all the more meaningful because we put Jesus first!  Best of all, our love and devotion for our Lord will point others to the BEST GIFT that they will ever receive … His love and forgiveness, the Reason He came to us that night as a Babe in the Manger!  “Happy Birthday, Jesus … WE ADORE YOU!”

REMEMBER . . . “On coming to the house, they (the Magi) saw the Child with His mother, Mary,

and they bowed down and worshipped Him.

Then they opened their treasures

and presented Him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.”

~ Matthew 2:11

YOU ARE INVITED ... to our first-ever Sunday School Christmas Program next Sunday morning, December 15th, following our praise and worship at the beginning of the service!  "Don't Forget Jesus" will be directed by Verla Jones ~ and you will be blessed by our children and youth as they portray this entertaining and powerful message of what Christmas is really all about!

Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie