Christmas

The Unopened Gift

Valerie Cullers 23 Comments

Several years ago, I lived in the mountains. One Christmas, I was invited to spend it with a wealthy elderly gentleman. I had never met him but knew he had a sterling reputation, so I said yes. He was known for inviting ten people from the surrounding villages to his home each Christmas. When I read the invitation, it said, “Please RSVP with one thing your heart truly desires.”

At that time, the Vietnam War was raging and was in the news nightly. I had such a desire for peace, and so when I sent my RSVP back, I just said peace. As the day approached, I selected what I was going to wear and packed my bag. We were to arrive the night before in time for a late dinner at 9:00.

At about 8:00, I got into the Land Rover and headed up the road to his home. I drove slowly as the roads were covered with snow and ice. Those of us who lived in the mountains were used to driving in these conditions and knew that if we just drove slowly, all would be well. The Rover lumbered along at about 25 mph, and I thought about what the next day would be like. I wondered what the gentleman would be like, and all the time I was imagining spending a night in the home of someone I had never met.

As I neared the top of the mountain, the road ended in his driveway. There was a large gate across the road. I got out of the Rover and walked over to the gate. There was an intercom on the post. I pushed the button and waited. “Yes?” the voice on the other end asked. I stated my name and what I was there for. I heard a buzzer sound, and the gate opened automatically. I got back in the Rover, drove up and parked at the end of the circular driveway.

The home was magnificent, huge by any standard, and it looked like a forest lodge. It was built entirely of wood and stone, and floodlights covered the driveway and front with a soft yellow light. I picked up my bag and walked up the sidewalk. I could see several people inside as I looked in the front window. I rang the doorbell and again waited. Soon, a butler opened the door and asked to see my invitation. I opened my purse and showed it to him. He checked it and crossed my name off the list. “Welcome,” he said. “We have been expecting you. There is only one person left to arrive, and we can begin our festivities.”

I walked in and another servant showed me to my room. I followed her upstairs and down a long hall. She opened the door to a room that was almost iridescent. A candle had been lit, and the walls glistened as the light bounced off them. “Wow,” I thought. “I’ve never seen anything like this before.” I thanked the small woman, and I closed the door. I unpacked and put on my favorite dress and went downstairs.

People were talking in the great room. I looked around for our host, and in the corner, I saw an older man with white hair chatting with one of the guests. He kept looking out the window for the final guest to arrive, but the man or woman never came. After about an hour, the butler came into the room and announced that dinner was served.

Everyone looked for their names on the place cards on the table. I finally found mine and sat next to a younger man and woman. There was one place empty at the table, and the older gentleman would look there off and on. You could see it bothered him that whoever he had invited did not come.

We all then participated in what I would say is the most memorable dinner I had ever eaten. Over the next few hours, we went through several courses. Each course was a delicacy of one sort or another. The gentleman introduced himself, and then each of us introduced ourselves and shared a little about ourselves. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, and it took away any sense of shyness I would normally feel in a group of people I had just met.

When we finished dinner, we were told to go pick up our gift by the Christmas tree. We were to take it to our room and open it. He made a point of telling us that our gifts had been purchased specifically for us by his son. When I picked up mine, I walked back up to my room. It was beautifully wrapped, and I wondered, “What could possibly be in there?” After all, my desire was for peace.

I sat down on the bed and slowly pulled on the bow. I pulled the ribbon off the box and took off the lid. There inside, under the tissue paper, were two envelopes. The parchment was delicate, and the writing was in calligraphy. One envelope said, “For the World,” and the other one said, “For you, Valerie.” I opened the one for the world, and inside was a piece of parchment written in calligraphy. It said, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill towards men.” I thought about those words for a few moments. Yes, I had heard the story about angels showing up at the birth of Christ and announcing it. Those words were famous, but had I ever believed they were true, that God’s desire for the world was peace and goodwill towards men? I really hadn’t given those words any real thought. The world I lived in was ruled by war and crass materialism. Was there really a benevolent God who existed and wanted good things for men, even though they were so far away from what he desired?

Slowly, I opened the other envelope. There was another exquisite piece of parchment with beautiful writing on it. This one was for me personally. It said, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give you.” And sure enough, after I read those words, I did feel a peace come over me. I could not control the world and all of the terrible things going on in it, but I personally could have the peace of God if only I would accept the gift I had been given.

I put my envelopes back in the box. I put my pajamas on, turned off the light, and lay down in the bed. For the first time in years, I realized there was a God, and if I would only accept what he was offering me, I could have his peace. I got back up and opened the box. I took the envelope that was meant just for me and held it in my hand. I lay back down in the bed and put it next to my heart. I remember thinking that I wanted that feeling to last forever as I fell asleep.

The next morning, I awoke late. I had slept longer and more deeply than I had for a long time. I was refreshed, and I pulled the curtain and looked out at the snow. This would be my last day here, and we would all leave after the mid-day meal. I didn’t want to go, but I knew I would have to. I got dressed and went down for brunch. The table was full of Christmas sweets, and people wandered in and out of the dining room, ate, and then went and sat by the fire. Everyone was quiet and reflecting on the gifts they had been given. As I went and sat by the fire, I noticed there was one gift left, unopened by the tree. Whoever had been invited had not come, and had missed out on a tremendous experience, perhaps even a life-changing one.

Over the years, I wondered about that person. Who was he or she? Was it someone I knew? Who missed out on such an important event? I will never know. All I know is that our host was saddened by the fact that this person had not come. His son had purchased a gift just for him or her, and it would never be picked up or opened. As I drove around each year at Christmas time, I looked at the people shoveling their driveways; or skiing along the paths. That person had no idea what they missed out on, and perhaps never would.

What if it had been me, or you? I shudder to think of how my life would be today if I had not accepted the invitation. It was a milestone in my journey to find the Father and get to know his Son, Jesus Christ.

May you open every gift available to you during this Christmas season.

Putting Christmas on Credit

Valerie Cullers 16 Comments

Several years ago, my husband and I were in a retail store. We came down an aisle and met an acquaintance of ours shopping with his girlfriend. His shopping cart was full of toys, and he leaned close to us and quietly said, “I’ll be putting this on my credit card and will be paying for this all next year.” My husband and I looked at each other, and I thought, “Yikes!”

We had set a budget and were buying the last of whatever we needed, and when that money was spent, we were finished. We knew that on the 26th of December, when we woke up, we might not have a bunch of money, but we were not going to get slammed with bills from the credit card company for our purchases.

This may seem a little late in the season to be writing this but did you know that it was always the week before Christmas when I was tempted to put purchases on the card? We had spent our Christmas budget and had other bills to pay after Christmas, so I couldn’t dip into that money. But there were other things I would like to get, nothing necessary but things that would have added to our holiday celebrations. I resisted those temptations but they were there every year nonetheless.

If any of you are feeling those temptations, I want to say, “Don’t do it!” You don’t want to pay for it later, especially now when credit card rates are through the roof. Did you know that when we use credit cards for purchases, we are more likely to pay between 25 and 100 percent more for what we are buying? (Thank you, NerdWallet.) Add on the interest we will be shelling out, and that’s a pretty hefty price to pay for anything.

I know that there are times when we have to use our cards. Perhaps an extra family is coming to our celebrations that we have not planned for. Perhaps the neighbor next door just lost his job and they will not be having any Christmas whatsoever. Perhaps we have lost our job and our family will not have any presents or dinner if we don’t use our card. We still need to set a budget and stick to it and forget about Madison Avenue’s idea of the perfect Christmas. Sometimes smaller is better when we can’t afford more.

Three things I have learned about Christmas that I want to pass on. First, try to put something away each month so that Christmas doesn’t catch you flatfooted. Second, purchase a couple gifts for your kids. One that they want and one that will help them explore their giftedness. Third, the best Christmas gift is the gift of time. Give those you love the gift of your time this year. Plan a few outings you can experience together and it will make this Christmas so much more meaningful for you and them.

Hope you have a Merry Christmas with the ones you love! (And put that credit card away if you don’t absolutely have to use it!)

Finding Christ at Christmas

Valerie Cullers 13 Comments

Have you ever felt overwhelmed during the Christmas season? There’s so much to do besides the normal list of activities. Decorate the tree and house, buy presents and wrap them, attend school plays and church productions, shop, shop, shop, cook, bake, and keep juggling all of the normal balls. I remember many Christmases when I was thinking, “Where is Christ in all of this?”

Was I alone in my thoughts? I don’t think so. It is pretty hard to find time for anything spiritual when your activity level is at a ten plus. Can you relate? Is it possible to take a few steps back from the activity and seek the Savior’s presence? It is, but we must be Very Intentional about it.

Last December, when my husband was in the hospital, Christmas came to a screeching halt for me. There were no decorations put up in my home, no Christmas cards sent, and no parties attended. It was a month of hospital visits and sleep when I could find it. Funny thing though, I may have been closer to Christ than I had been most Decembers.

I could see Him in the doctors and nurses as they ministered to my husband. I could feel His presence in the halls of the hospital as I heard families weeping about their loved ones’ conditions. He was there with the hurting and those doing their best to alleviate the suffering.

If you’re missing Christ this Christmas and can’t find Him at the malls or the office parties, take part of a day and find someplace where people are hurting. Buy a fruit or snack basket and take it to a hospital, nursing home, or homeless shelter. Take a bag of toys to a migrant shelter or soup kitchen. The people there represent those who will not be spending a “traditional Christmas.” They will either be the ones receiving care or the ones giving it. Offer your time and resources to those who need it most. There you will find the Spirit of Christ. He is there among the brokenhearted. You will be enriched and your heart will be affected by those who are suffering and the kindness of others.

“Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me. Matthew 25:40.

Adventus

Valerie Cullers 15 Comments

Adventus is a Latin word meaning arrival or approach (Lexico.com). In Roman times, the population knew what this word meant and the ceremony attached to it. An Adventus was held when a conquering General or Emperor was welcomed into a city during a progress or the end of a military campaign (definitions.net).

Hence, the anglicized word Advent. Advent has been celebrated by the Christian church for about sixteen centuries. It was celebrated in Gaul and Spain during the fourth and fifth centuries as a time when those wishing to be baptized spent forty days in fasting, penance, and prayer. It was not linked to Christmas but to The Feast of the Magi. By the sixth century, Christians celebrating Advent were looking forward to Christ’s Second Coming. Later in the Middle Ages, Advent was linked to Christmas and to the first coming of Jesus (Christianity.com).

In the twenty-first century, many denominational churches still celebrate Advent. It occurs over four Sundays when both Christ’s first and second comings are celebrated. Most people (including myself for many years) do not really know that Advent is not just about remembering Christ’s first coming as a baby in Bethlehem. It is also about looking forward to the time when Christ shall come as a conquering King to the Earth. 

Why do I even mention this? Because most of us at Christmas think of Jesus as a baby lying in a manger. There is nothing wrong with this, but we must remember a few things about Jesus:

He is no longer lying in a manger in Bethlehem.

He is no longer walking around Israel teaching and performing miracles.

He is no longer on a cross at Calvary being crucified as an atonement for our sins.

He is no longer just risen out of a tomb after being there for three days.

He is no longer ascending into Heaven.

However, He is:

Sitting at the right hand of the Father, waiting for the time when He will return to Earth, His Adventus, and judge the nations. He will reign on the Earth for a thousand years and then judge the living and the dead…some will spend eternity with Him and others will spend it apart from Him in Hell.

Are we ready for the next arrival of Jesus? We can rest assured that it will surely come just as the first one did, according to God’s timetable and in fulfillment of prophecy. Let us prepare our hearts for it, so that we will not be ashamed at His Adventus!

Men on a Mission

Valerie Cullers 19 Comments

A few weeks ago, I was reading these verses in Matthew and I was struck by the sheer enormity of what these men did: 

“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him” Matthew 2: 1-2 NKJV

christmas-934181_640 photo by Geralt. Courtesy of Pixabay.

Here were wise men, Magi they were called in the Greek, from the Persian word Magoi, meaning men who studied the stars, and they were from the East. The Bible does not tell us anything else about them. Tradition says they may have been from Iran, Iraq, Yemen, or India, but we do not know. 

This is what we do know: they studied the stars and saw something extraordinary in the heavens. It may have been a conjunction of planets or a comet. Whatever it was, they studied it and determined that a King was born to the Jews, and His birth announcement was in the night sky. This event was so immense that they decided they had to come find this King and worship Him. They were men on a mission.

We don’t know how far they came, but they were probably not from Israel. Once they made the decision to find this King, they were going to have to plan a trip, spend a lot of money and travel a long way to find what they were looking for. They could have come from as far away as five hundred or a thousand miles. If they came by camel and rode every day, they may have made the trip in a few weeks or a month, but the trip could have taken a lot longer. This was not going to be a comfortable undertaking.

There are a few things that really strike me about what these men did. First, they recognized the fact that the universe was making an announcement. They saw the star and, from their studies, whether it was from star charts or the Hebrew Scriptures, they figured out that a King was born in Israel. They knew this birth had immense significance. Second, they were willing to make an effort to go find this King and worship Him. These men were probably court advisors in whatever kingdom they lived in. They were men of status and probably lived in great comfort. In spite of this, they wanted to travel to Israel to worship this newborn King. 

During this Christmas season, I will think about the wise men and the lessons I can learn from them. First, I need to study and know what is going on around the world prophetically. If there are actual signs in the heavens of His Second Coming, I need to be aware of them and find out what they mean. Second, I need to be willing to get out of my comfort zone and go where I need to serve and worship the King. 

Men on a mission, an example to us all.