Redeeming Grace

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Redeeming Grace

These are important words in the Christmas story.  It’s the era of redeeming grace.  We should take a pause on that thought for a moment. 

Not just good ‘ole ‘grace’, but “Redeeming” grace. 

Redemption is a word in lesser use these days, it appears.

Redemption means …

   Recovery

      Renovation

         Refurbishment

            Revitalization

               Restoration

I love to visit a home after a renovation.  The freshness, the newness, the re-purposing is exciting to see.

I think we need to add re-purposing to our string of synonyms for redemption. 

We just saw Dickens’ A Christmas Carol yesterday.  There is no doubt in my mind that the fictional character had a re-purpose experience in that story.  He changed.  He had a dose of redeeming grace dumped on him. 

It hits me every year when we see this classic stage play.  If ever there is a story of redemption in an entertaining piece of art, it is found when Scrooge awakens after the third Ghost of Christmas visits.  He sees with new eyes, a new reference point. 

He becomes a new man, a revitalized man, and as the story goes, he became good for his word in all that he promised Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim.

What is amazing to me is how the gospel of redeeming grace shows up in so many song lyrics and special musicals and plays at Christmas. 

I love the “redeeming grace” aspect of Christmas.  That one idea was at the heart of God’s plan all along.  He was seeking for a way to draw mankind to Him.  He turned away from what some labeled Him as the “ogre God” to the “Redeeming Grace-filled” God

I pray you are discovering restoration, liberation and renovation in your heart and life to whatever degree you seek those elements.

Merry Christmas.

This is my

morning reflection.

Morning Notes Blog Site

P Michael Biggs

Words of Hope

Encouragement

Inspiration

Does Your Heart Grow at Christmas?

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Does Your Heart Grow at Christmas?

We just watched How the Grinch Stole Christmas.  I’ve never seen it all the way through in one setting before.  The short version – I was/am impressed and inspired.  So inspired that I wrote a poem based on one line from that movie - Where Are You Christmas?.

But for now, in this space I want to talk about the ‘growing heart’ thing that happened in the story.  As the story goes, every year the Grinch’s heart grew smaller and colder.  At one point in the movie he brags about how much smaller his heart will be sooner than soon. 

And, in the end, his heart grew three sizes.  Christmas has a way of doing that to us, when we allow it.  It’s the joy and happiness of the season.  And the incredible message of hope that abounds.

Seems this year, people in my small town are putting up more lights, brighter displays and more plentiful decorations than ever before.  There is an optimism and spirit of “The Christmas Happies” that is catching on, and I’m loving every minute of it.

I think my own heart grows a size or two larger every year.  I seek out new insights, new thoughts, new freshness and new eyes with which to see the season.  I want to go into Christmas with eyes wide open, and a heart like a sponge so that I may soak up as much as possible of this great time of year.

So, right now, my heart has already enlarged.  And it’s growing moment by moment.

I’m growing it larger to make room for more love, more joy and more ‘Good tidings of great joy’.

Merry Christmas.

This is my

morning reflection.

Morning Notes Blog Site

P Michael Biggs

Words of Hope

Encouragement

Inspiration

I've Had Christmas, and It's Not Even Christmas

I’ve Had Christmas, 

and It’s Not Even Christmas

I’ve had Christmas a dozen times already, and it’s not even Christmas.

You should see our Christmas tree.  Carolyn did an amazing job this year, better than ever.  It has twice as many lights, and she added some lights around our dining room windows, and now, with grandkids help, the Dickens Village is up and lighted.

I’ve had Christmas as each of these decorative elements came to life.

Sunday night, we went to Bellevue Square for the Snowflake Lane parade and music.  There were thousands upon thousands of lights, the parade was awesome, the cast members were spirited and smiling and happy.  The drummers drummed their little hearts out.  I wanted to be a drummer again on that night.

I had Christmas Sunday night.

We sang a few Christmas carols in church on Sunday.  I was asked to sing O Holy Night.  Christmas came Sunday morning.

I have Christmas every time we drive by a beautifully decorated home, or hear some Christmas music on the radio.  We started listening to this music in early November.

Yes, I’ve had Christmas many times over already.  And we still have three weeks to go before December 25^th. 

You see … I’m allowing Christmas to overtake me like never before.  I’m wallowing in all the sights and sounds, festivities and celebrations, decorations and declarations.

Join me.  It’s good for you.

This is my

morning reflection.

Morning Notes Blog Site

P Michael Biggs

Words of Hope

Encouragement

Inspiration