2021-12-26
Nehemia 8:10 AFR53
Die woord ‘holiday’ kom van die ou Engelse woord ‘haligdæg’ af, wat ‘heilige dag’ beteken. Dus, toe Nehemia verklaar het: ‘…Hierdie dag is heilig…’ het hy verklaar dat dit ‘n feesviering is; hulle het ‘…dié dag geëet en gedrink voor die aangesig van die Here met groot blydskap…’ (1 Kronieke 29:22 AFR53). Deesdae het oormatigheid en oorbesteding sinoniem met Kersfees geword, wat Christene huiwerig maak om dit te vier.
Jack Hayford skryf egter: ‘Dikwels is dit diegene wat onlangs gered is wat hulleself toelaat om – miskien vir die eerste keer – die wonder en volheid van Kersvreugde en vieringe binne te gaan. Kersfees is meer as net vrolikheid. Kersfees is magtig. Feesviering – die ongebonde genieting daarvan, liefde, lag, geskenke en om geskenke te gee, kersbome en versierings, kersliedere en klokke – alles daarvan, het ‘n inherente potensiaal om magtig te wees.
Die enigste faktor wat teenwoordig moet wees, is die teenwoordigheid van die Heilige Gees. Wanneer Hy teenwoordig is, kan die tradisies van Kersfees mense seën, versterk, genees en herstel. Wanneer Hy afwesig is, klink Kersliedere hol. Kerswense en glimlagte is dan oppervlakkig. Ligte en versierings laat mens verlate voel. Waar die Heilige Gees egter teenwoordig is, is daar mag om verskanste gewoontes te verander, om harte te transformeer, om griewe en verwagtinge te laat gaan en om die skaduwees weg te jaag.
Laat Hom hierdie Kersfees toe om jou te besoek. Verwelkom die Heilige Gees om in jou lewe te beweeg. Veroorloof jouself om verwonderd in die grootsheid daarvan te staan. Reik uit na die mense rondom jou; bemoedig, seën, gee, gaan kuier, nooi uit, deel en hef harte op waar jy ook al gaan. Teen die tyd wat die nuwejaar aanbreek, sal jy agterkom dat Kersfees wonderlik en selfs wonderbaarlik magtig was.’
Sielskos: Jes 11:1-10; Luk 2:21-38
Nehemiah 8:9 KJV
The word holiday comes from the Old English word haligdæg, which means ‘holy day’. So, when Nehemiah announced, ‘This day is holy,’ he was declaring a celebration; a time to ‘eat and drink before the LORD’ (1 Chronicles 29:22 KJV). Today, overindulgence and overspending have become associated with Christmas, making many Christians hesitant to celebrate.
Jack Hayford writes: ‘Often it is from those newly associated with our fellowship who have allowed themselves – perhaps for the first time – to enter into the wonder and fullness of Christmas joy and celebration…Christmas is more than merely “merry”. Christmas is mighty. Celebration – unfettered enjoyment, love…laughter…gifts and giving, trees and tinsel,…carols and bells…all of it – has an inherent potential for mightiness.
The qualifying factor is the presence of the Holy Spirit. When He is present, the accoutrements of Christmas…can bless, strengthen, heal, [and] restore…When He is absent, carols ring hollow. Greetings, wishes and smiles lie on the surface, like glitter glued on a flat card. Lights and decorations…can leave the heart more desolate than ever. But where the Holy Spirit is there is power…to change entrenched habits…transform cold hearts…grudges and expectations…lift lives out of the shadow…This Christmas, let Him come upon you. Welcome the…Holy Spirit…to move upon your life, and then make your own move…into the season’s best opportunities to bask in the wonder of it all…Reach out to those around: encourage, bless, bake, give, visit, invite, share, and lift hearts wherever you can. By…New Year…you’ll find Christmas to…have been marvellously, and even miraculously, mighty.’
However we choose to celebrate Christmas, let’s invite the Holy Spirit to be a part of it, and watch expectantly for God to move in mighty ways.
Isa 11:1-10; Luke 2:21-38
Nehemiah 8:9 KJV
The word holiday comes from the Old English word haligdæg, which means “holy day.” So, when Nehemiah announced, “This day is holy,” he was declaring a celebration; a time to “eat and drink before the Lord” (1 Chronicles 29:22 KJV). Today, overindulgence and overspending have become synonymous with Christmas, making Christians hesitant to celebrate.
Jack Hayford writes: “Often it is from those newly associated with our fellowship who have allowed themselves – perhaps for the first time – to enter into the wonder and fulness of Christmas joy and celebration…Christmas is more than merely ‘merry.’ Christmas is mighty. Celebration – unfettered enjoyment, love…laughter…gifts and giving, trees and tinsel,…carols and bells…all of it – has an inherent potential for mightiness.
The qualifying factor is the presence of the Holy Spirit. When He is present, the accoutrements of Christmas…can bless, strengthen, heal, [and] restore…When He is absent, carols ring hollow. Greetings, wishes and smiles lie on the surface, like glitter glued on a flat card. Lights and decorations…can leave the heart more desolate than ever. But where the Holy Spirit is there is power…to change entrenched habits…transform cold hearts…grudges and expectations…lift lives out of the shadow…
This Christmas, let Him come upon you. Welcome the…Holy Spirit…to move upon your life, and then make your own move…into the season’s best opportunities to bask in the wonder of it all…Reach out to those around: encourage, bless, bake, give, visit, invite, share, and lift hearts wherever you can. By…New Year…you’ll find Christmas to…have been marvelously, and even miraculously, mighty.”
Soul food: Isa 11:1-10; Luke 2:21-38
2021-12-25
Hosea 14:8 TLV
The word “celebrate” means to rejoice, delight in, revel, and appreciate. Jack Hayford writes: “There is so much done in the name of Christmas that is neither pleasing nor honoring to Christ. Even so, I find myself doing battle…with…religious superstitions which argue against almost every observation of Christmas…against giving…against decorations, trees, or just plain fun, as though such participation defiled something holy. Such harsh debunking is nothing more than ‘holy humbug.’
A Christmas tree…is a specific statement…By means of this tree we are saying: We believe in celebration. We serve the God who ‘gives us richly all things to enjoy’ (1 Timothy 6:17 NKJV) and who through history assigned…sacred appointments of feasting and rejoicing…’great gladness’ (1 Chronicles 29:22 KJV)…
Although no one can make a ‘biblical case’ for Christmas trees, we gather around ours with joy. We see in its living branches a symbol of everlasting life given us because of Jesus’ death on the tree – whose naked crossbars Xed out death and ushered in forgiveness…and eternal hope. The lights…gleam a testimony of His Light-of-the-world glory. The ornaments reflect the decorative splendor with which His kindnesses adorn our lives. The star beams hope, with a heavenward ray, reminding us that from there He shall come again to receive us.”
As you gather around the tree this Christmas, don’t forget to celebrate the One who said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me…will have the light of life” (John 8:12 NIV).
Soul food: Isa 9:1-7; Matt 1:18-25; Micah 5:2-5a; Isa 7:14
Hosea 14:8 TLV
The word ‘celebrate’ means to rejoice, delight in, honour, and appreciate. Jack Hayford writes: ‘There is so much done in the name of Christmas that is neither pleasing nor honouring to Christ. Even so, I find myself doing battle…with…religious superstitions which argue against almost every observation of Christmas…against giving…against decorations, trees, or just plain fun, as though such participation defiled something holy. Such harsh debunking is nothing more than “holy humbug”.
A Christmas tree…is a specific statement…By means of this tree we are saying: We believe in celebration. We serve the God who “gives us richly all things to enjoy” (1 Timothy 6:17 NKJV) and who through history assigned…sacred appointments of feasting and rejoicing…”great gladness” (1 Chronicles 29:22 KJV)…Although no one can make a “biblical case” for Christmas trees, we gather around ours with joy. We see in its living branches a symbol of everlasting life given us because of Jesus’ death on the tree – whose naked crossbars Xed out death and ushered in forgiveness…and eternal hope. The lights…gleam a testimony of His Light-of-the-world glory. The ornaments reflect the decorative splendour with which His kindnesses adorn our lives. The star beams hope, with a heavenward ray, reminding us that from there He shall come again to receive us.’
Whether we’re celebrating by gathering around a tree, attending parties, tucking in to a feast, or however we choose to do Christmas, let’s not forget to celebrate the One who said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me…will have the light of life’ (John 8:12 NIV).
Isa 9:1-7; Matt 1:18-25; Micah 5:2-5a; Isa 7:14
