Perhaps a few can relate to this poem, “Twas the Day After Christmas” :

Twas the day after Christmas, and all through the house
Nothing would fit me, not even a blouse.
The cookies I'd nibbled, the eggnog I'd taste
At the holiday parties had gone to my waist. 
When I got on the scales there arose such a number! 
When I walked to the store (less a walk than a lumber).

I'd remember the marvelous meals I'd prepared; 
The gravies and sauces and beef nicely rared,
The wine and the rum balls, the bread and the cheese
And the way I'd never said, "No thank you, please."

As I dressed myself in my husband's old shirt
And prepared once again to do battle with dirt---
I said to myself, as only I can "
You can't spend a winter disguised as a man! "

So--away with the last of the sour cream dip,
Get rid of the fruit cake, every cracker and chips
Every last bit of food that I like must be banished
Till all the additional ounces have vanished.
I won't have a cookie--not even a lick.
I'll chew only on a long celery stick.

I won't have hot biscuits, or corn bread, or pie,
I'll munch on a carrot and quietly cry.
I'm hungry, I'm lonesome, and life is a bore---
But isn't that what January is for?
Unable to giggle, no longer a riot.
Happy New Year to all and to all a good diet! "

A kernel of truth in this silly poem. The day after Christmas, the festivities are over, reality sets in, families go home.  “I'm hungry, I'm lonesome, and life is a bore--- But isn't that what January is for?”  The routine is just around the corner. 

No crisis is ever convenient.  A crisis is a time of intense difficulty, trouble, or danger. Sometimes it comes with the feeling of being overwhelmed, dread.  Sometimes specific events, sudden change, or maybe a general confusion.  The truth is many people will secretly be glad when Christmas is over…the work, the emotions, the loneliness on a holiday that is supposed to be like a Norman Rockwell painting.          

Ready or not, it is time for Christmas. 

The Crisis of Christ.   Jesus was born in a time of crisis.  His birth is a crisis.  Even in the best of situations, birth is hard!  The unknown.  The changes.  When Esther was born the doctors let Sally and me hold her.  After a few moments she started turning blue ~ I was pretty sure that was not normal…they whisked her away and five hours later we saw held her once again.

The meaning of names:
Carl: a peasant or man of low birth
Linda: Beautiful
John: The Grace of the Lord
Herb: Illustrious Warrior
Janet: God has been gracious
Connie: Strong willed or Wise
Barbara: stranger, traveler from a foreign land
Steve: Crown, Victorious
Patricia: Noble
Paul: Humble
Ian: Gift from God
Michelle: “who is like God?”
Diane: Beauty and Swiftness ~ a huntress
Elizabeth: God is satisfied

Luke 2:21 highlights a couple of truths about Jesus: When and Why named Jesus.

#1 WHEN.  the custom in the days of Jesus of naming children is different than for us.  In those days, children were NOT traditionally named until 8 days after the baby was born.  We don’t do it that way ~ parents often select a name well before the child is born.  There were customs having to do with the father and the birth order, names being handed down, but the reason to wait for the 8th day was to give the parents an opportunity to know their child, the character, significant attributes ~  parents could see the character of the child and select a name that has to do with personality, or perhaps something unusual about the birth….

The name “Jesus” is given by the angels before Jesus was even conceived.  This is unusual!  God revealed the character of Jesus before he was even born.  This is prophecy.  This is an announcement of the character, the role of Jesus.  He will be called Jesus! 

#2 WHY:  something highly significant about the name of Jesus.  Most names (maybe not all) but most names have something to do with the character of the person that has the name, beautiful, royalty, strong, leader, humble, lovely, or maybe a physical characteristic like red complexion, or born at a significant time. 

The name Jesus, announced by the angels before he was even conceived, is not at all about the character of the baby, some significant personality or physical attribute.  The name Jesus means GOD SAVES.  Even the name Jesus is a message to the people that he came for YOU.  He CAME to save you, to rescue you from sin.  Of all people who have walked this earth, this man deserved a kingly name, a highly exhalted name, a royal name, a GREAT Name, but no, the name chose to give the savior is a name of what he came to do, his role in the world, his purpose.  God SAVES. 

There is no other name like Jesus.  The name gives hope and expectation.  The name cause wonder and joy.  Jesus, the name above all names.  The name Jesus means "Savior." It is given to our Lord because "He saves His people from their sins." He saves them from the guilt of sin, by cleansing them in His own atoning blood. He saves us from the oppression of sin by putting in our hearts the life giving Spirit.

Jesus is a very encouraging name to weighted-down sinners. He, who is the King of kings and the Lord of lords, deserved to be given a more high-sounding title. The rulers of this world have often called themselves great, conquerors, bold, magnificent. The Son of God is content to call Himself Savior.  Jesus wants to most be identified by what he does for us.  Those seeking salvation may draw near to the Father with boldness, and have access with confidence through Christ. "For God didn't send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him" (John 3:17).

Jesus, the name above all names ~ he came to save you!  

(NOTE: shorter than normal to make room for the Christmas Play during the service) 

A simple question: Can you hear the angels singing? You do or you don’t.  The shepherds heard them. some people see the angels, others don’t. Some people hear them, others don’t. Some people believe in the supernatural, others don’t. In the fourth century was a bishop named Hillary who said, “Everything that seems empty is full of the angels of God.”

A few days ago I received a note asking if I could go and see Brian Ackerman, home from the hospital, given 2-4 weeks to live.  One of the great honors of my life! If you are uncertain about the existence of a supernatural world ~ visit the home of a dying person that knows Christ and the home of a dying person that does not.  We are firmly rooted in this world bound by it’s rules, the flesh and blood, the destruction and chaos ~ yet those moments/ occasions to see a glimpse of the supernatural world is refreshing, life orienting… the shepherd needed to hear the angels sing, the world needed to be suddenly overwhelmed by the angels ~ yet many do not hear the angels sing.  Can you hear them sing? 

A perspective on wealth and poverty:  One day, the father of a wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country to show his son how poor people live. They spent a couple of days on the farm of what would be considered a poor family. Afterwards, the father asked his son, “How was the trip?”

 “It was great, Dad.”  “Did you see how poor people live?” the father asked.

 “Oh yeah” The son answered: “I saw that we have one dog and they had four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon. We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight. We have servants who serve us, but they serve others. We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them.”

 The boy’s father was speechless.  Then his son added, “Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are.”

God’s perspective on wealth and poverty is different from ours.  This is the final message of this series on giving.  Today, I simply want to say THANK YOU for all you do.  Thank you for your generosity, your love, your prayers, your desire to serve God.  Thank you for the joy that you bring to others.  Thank you for your acceptance of people among us.  I thought it good to stand before you to say I am proud of you.  I am encouraged by your example in giving.  For years, I cannot tell you how many times the board, or the elders have gotten together, the latest budget has been passed out, and as we’ve looked at the giving there is a silent “amazing” because of your generosity.  You truly practice generous living.

Drawn from this scripture, I see three ways Generous Living is put into practice ~ Patterned Giving, Proportional Giving, giving in Perspective.