Too often at Christmastime, we get so consumed with gift-giving and gift-getting that the Gift of all Gifts gets somewhat ignored and unfortunately forgotten. The Apostle Paul had these words to say about this gift that was given to everyone, but also given to just YOU:
“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift” 2 Corinthians 9:15
We as Christians understand that the “Reason for the Season” is NOT what we are giving or getting on December 25. It is also NOT all the gatherings and parties we attend or even our enthusiastic participation in an “ugly sweater” contest (Now that’s INDESCRIBABLE).
These are possibly a few of the many festivities you and I claim as part of our traditions. But they are only a partof thewhole that constitutes our reasons within the season (the littlepicture). It is part of our actuality and obviously part of our reality as we attempt to seek Christ “as we are going”within our daily lives on this earth. This is an example of what The Story curriculum (a study that LFCC began in January 2015 – yes, it’s been ten years) calls the Lower Story. The following material is taken from a companion book entitled The Heart of the Story:
“This is Lower Story stuff… We need to eat. Pay the bills. Avoid the little voice that says, ‘Go ahead do what feels good. No one will ever know.’ These are the groanings of daily life, the raw clay God used to shape us as vessels on His potter’s wheel. So we cry out to God to meet us in our Lower Story, and He does. Not always according to our liking, but He is intimately involved and cares deeply about details of our daily lives. He empowers us to live the Lower Story from an Upper Story perspective. Everything that happens to us in the Lower Story, whether good or bad, will work out for our good if we align our lives to His superior calling.”
God IS concerned with us as individuals. Remember, Jesus would have come to this earth to die for just you or just me if we were the only ones needing His Saving Grace! By the way, that isthe Upper Story within the Nativity narrative (the BIG picture). We find this stated precisely and emphatically in the third gospel. It helps us see how our little pictures are incorporated into God’s BIG picture. Just like some common ordinary shepherds who heard these words:
“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to YOU; He is Christ the Lord.”(Luke 2:10-11)
Sincerely Seeking CHRIST in CHRISTmas,
Pastor Pat
Little Flatrock Christian Church 