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Just a Little Tree

Challenge Central: a CBC devotional

By: Laurie Korstanje

 

         

         What stands 12 inches tall, is made out of ceramic, has a light dusting of snow, and twinkling lights?

         You might say a ceramic Christmas tree, I say memories.

         I opened a box on Christmas day, a gift from my sweetheart. What was inside made me tear up with joy. It was that tree that I described. Why would something like that make me so emotional?

         Thirty years ago, when my mom moved here from B.C., she brought with her a ceramic Christmas tree that she had literally made herself in a ceramics class.

         Since there was no room for a standard tree in her apartment, that little tree was perfect. Every year she brought it out and stood it on her side table. She even managed to put a few presents around it as long as they were small.

         Every January, she packed all her decorations away in a Rubbermaid bin until the next year.

         She moved into my home eleven years later and her decorations remained packed away, she enjoyed ours instead.

         When she moved back to B.C. in 2010, there seemed no point in taking that bin with her to my sister’s home, so it stayed.

         Missing her that next Christmas, I made a point in getting out that old Rubbermaid bin, excited to put out her little Christmas tree, but it wasn’t there.

         I called my sisters and asked if they had it or knew where it was, neither of them knew what had happened to it.

         I think as we age, we become more nostalgic. We look back on things, some at the time seem inconsequential, but years later they seem more important.

         That is what happened with that little ceramic Christmas tree. It wasn’t that a piece of painted ceramic was important, it was that my mom had made it and she was important.

         This year Casey, aware of my fruitless search for that tree, got me one for Christmas. I appreciate that he thought hard trying to remember just what it looked like and hunted til he found just the right one. When I opened that box, I wasn’t just holding a bought ceramic Christmas tree, I was holding memories and that is what was so special.

         A tree covered in tiny lights and snow. I took it into the room we spend a lot of time in and turned it on. The tiny lights sparkled in all different colours. As I stared the little glowing tree my memories took me back to sitting in my mother’s living room where there was acceptance, and love and peace. Those feelings are just as palpable now as they were then.

         It reminds me of a verse in Galatians:

         Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,[23] gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (ESV)

We’re at the beginning of a new year and I have packed that little tree away for now. (Goodness, I hope this one doesn’t disappear.)

         I realize that only God knows what the year will hold for us. But I also know that come what may the fruit of the Spirit is guaranteed to us. Ask, and you will receive.

         In John 16, Jesus tells his disciples that a time was coming that they would not see him, and that they would be sorrowful because he was gone. But then he says: John 16:22 … but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. (ESV)

         So this year, whatever you face, whatever you do, let your hearts rejoice in Christ where you will find acceptance and love and peace, evermore.

This Year. Leap Year.

Challenge Central: a CBC devotional

By: Barbara Rogelstad

 

         Welcome to 2024! This year we are gifted with one day more than last year. I still remember the rhyme I memorized in elementary school. It goes like this: 

Thirty days has September,
April, June, and November.
All the rest have thirty-one.
But February’s really great!
It only has twenty-eight.
Leap year comes once in four, Then February has one day more. 

Yes, this year is a leap year but why is it called ‘Leap Year’? What exactly are we leaping over? 

Well for all you math and science buffs, here’s the details:

The National Air and Space Museum of Washington DC states that “A calendar year is typically 365 days long. These so called “common years” loosely define the number of days it takes the Earth to complete one orbit around the Sun. But 365 is actually a rounded number. It takes Earth 365.242190 days to orbit the Sun, or 365 days 5 hours 48 minutes and 56 seconds. This “sidereal” year is slightly longer than the calendar year, and that extra 5 hours 48 minutes and 56 seconds needs to be accounted for somehow. If we didn’t account for this extra time, the seasons would begin to drift. This would be annoying if not devastating, because over a period of about 700 years our summers, which we’ve come to expect in June in the northern hemisphere, would begin to occur in December! By adding an extra day every four years, our calendar years stay adjusted to the sidereal year.” 

So why is this sidereal year called a leap year? Think about the day Christmas occurred in 2023. It was a Monday, right? In 2024 it should be on a Tuesday but every four years Christmas “leaps” over a day and will now be on a Wednesday in 2024. As the rhyme goes, “once in four, one day more”. 

I praise the Lord God that He created the days, the nights, the years, and all the seasons in perfect harmony. In Genesis 1:14a it is written: “And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years.” In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth He also created the sun, moon, and stars to mark and measure time. God knew exactly how far to set the sun from the earth knowing that a few million kilometres more or less would alter our lives in significant ways. “Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they existed, and were created.” Rev. 4:1 

What will you do with one more day in 2024? 

My challenge to you is to show the love of Jesus with an act of kindness, or an act of mercy, or a time of giving. This Year. Leap Year. One day more to be like Jesus. 

The Prince of Peace

Challenge Central: a CBC devotional

By: Roger Wood

 

         

For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

         Five years ago, and two weeks before Christmas, my wife Cheryll and I travelled to Barrie to visit our youngest daughter Cathy, her husband Mark and two of our grandchildren Sam and Mavis. As we drove north on highway 400 there was plenty of snow on the ground and more as we got closer to our destination. When we arrived later in the afternoon, we had an early supper and Cathy had arranged for all of us to visit the Simcoe County Museum just outside the city.

         The museum is home to more than ten 19th century heritage buildings including a large log cabin, a train station, a one-room school house, blacksmith shop and a beautiful brick church. These pioneer structures have been relocated from various places in Simcoe County to the 327 acres of forested parkland.

         We entered the main museum building, paid a small fee, and viewed the vast array of exhibits in the five gallery indoor displays.

         As we headed outside, we climbed aboard a spacious horse-drawn sleigh. The scene in front of us was almost magical. In the still night, light snow had begun falling as the jingling horses pulled us along the fir lined pathways. Scores of oil lanterns on each side of the trails guided our way. Our first stop was an early settler church where we joined the choir along with many other people in singing carols.

         Our last stop for the evening was a unique glimpse from the annals of history. We came to a large open field. Deep trenches lined with sandbags had been dug on opposite sides of the field. We were guided into one trench occupied by British soldiers. On the other side of the field were German soldiers. We witnessed the reenactment of the Christmas Truce that took place during World War 1, Dec. 25, 1914.

         On Christmas Eve along a 20-mile stretch of the Western front, men from the British forces heard German troops in the opposite trenches singing carols. They also saw lanterns and small fir trees being displayed on top of the trenches. Both sides began shouting messages to each other and the following day the warring soldiers met with the understanding that “we won’t shoot if you don’t shoot”. They took photographs, exchanged handshakes, gifts and played impromptu games of football. Ceasefires were not observed everywhere and many officers were unhappy with the spontaneous truce and worried that it would undermine a fighting spirit. But for a brief moment in time, peace on earth and good will toward men was observed in scattered pockets within the killing fields of Europe.

         Nearly 20 million died and entire empires vanished during the Great War. The Treaty of Versailles was a peace treaty signed on June 28, 1919 and established the League of Nations. People were jubilant. Nothing so terrible could ever happen again because the 28th of June was the day that a new history would begin.

         Twenty years later on September, 1939 World War 2 began. There never really has been peace on earth at least in the sense we think of it. Wars and rumours of wars have characterized this world since the first Christmas as well as all the time before it. At the birth of Christ the angels pronounced peace on earth in Luke 2:14. They were speaking primarily of a very personal, individual application of God’s peace. It was a proclamation that God’s peace is available to men and women and God is pleased with the people who yield their lives to The Saviour.

         Of the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over His kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. Isaiah 9:7

Four More Days!

Challenge Central: a CBC devotional

By: Pastor Jeremy Heikkinen

 

         

We are so close! Christmas is just four days away!

         I don’t know why, but my youngest son has been captivated by the number four lately. Maybe because he just turned four in October. Lately, it has come up multiple times while playing a family game of “Snowman” (formerly known as hangman). When called upon for his guess at a letter, he replies, “four!”

         This month, we have been focusing on Matthew’s account of the birth of Jesus in our Sunday services. Last week, Pastor Lars spoke on how God is creative enough to redeem our tears by preaching about Matthew’s account of Herod killing the boys in Bethlehem. This passage is included in the account of the wise men from the East coming to Jerusalem following a star.

         In keeping with my son’s theme of “four,” I see four challenges in Matthew 2:1-12 that all start with “S”:

         1. A “Star”: After Jesus is born in Bethlehem in the days of Herod, wise men from the East come to Jerusalem looking for the one that was born “king of the Jews” (vs. 1-2). They saw his star, uprooted their lives, reoriented their schedules, put all other ambitions aside, and followed the star in order to find this king. I cannot help but wonder, “What “star” am I following at Christmas?” Is it a possession, person, or desire? What is so important that I am uprooting my life, reorienting my schedule, and laying aside all other ambitions to follow?

         2. A “Secret”: When the wise men show up looking for the king of the Jews, the text tells us that Herod was “troubled (fear) and all Jerusalem with him.” This baby was a threat to Herod and his rule. In verse 7, Herod secretly summoned the wise men to see what time the star appeared. It would appear that Herod is interested in worshipping this baby too, but in reality, he wants to get rid of the threat to his throne. I cannot help but ponder, “What desires are fighting for the throne of my heart this Christmas season?”

         3. A “Search”: At this point they continue the search. When they see see the star, they “rejoiced exceedingly with great joy” (v. 10). They found what they were looking for and it did not disappoint! Sometimes, on Christmas morning we don’t always get what we were looking for, or it is not the right model, or the right size, etc. I cannot help but ask, “What am I searching for to fulfill me at this time of year? What do I think would bring this level of rejoicing and joy?”

         4. A “Saviour”: Verse 11 tells us that when the wise men entered the house, they saw Jesus and fell down and worshipped Him! Imagine that, after all the preparation, the travel, the cost, and the searching they found what they were looking for. The text says, “then, opening their treasuries, they offered him gifts,” (vs. 11). This reminds me of what Jesus will teach in Matthew 6:21, “For where your treasure is, there you heart will be also.” They found the one worthy of worship! How about you, “To whom will you open the treasuries of your heart to this Christmas?”

         In what ways are you challenged by this passage? Is there an “S” challenge at which God is at work in your life? Which one would you like to talk further about with a friend or loved one? I would love to see you on Sunday, but if I don’t see you there, have a Merry Christmas!

God Bless Us, Every One!

Challenge Central: a CBC devotional

By: John Kerr

 

         

         I will never forget my first Christmas!

         No, not as a baby but as a new believer in Christ.

         Christmas of 1976 was special. I had arrived in Canada only weeks before. Central quickly became my home church.

         I was baptized in November and joined the church. But the best part is that Christmas was on a Sunday, and I was able to be in church that day! What a joy it was.

         Christmas is special. Every year has added something. From our first Christmas as a married couple to Christmases with our children and to Christmases as empty nesters.

         Each one was built on every other. 

         One of my favourite times was at our first church in Hamilton. We decided to have a “Christmas open house” for the people of our church. Every year our house was filled with folks. Brenda went all out to prepare the goodies. On one occasion, people were sitting everywhere, even on the stairs. The house was packed. We kept a guest book that is filled with names from those times.

         As a pastor I loved Christmas. We always had a Christmas Eve service. It was never a burden to gather and sing carols and fellowship. There was always a warmth about that evening and excitement in the air.

         I often picked a piece from Dickens or O. Henry to base my Christmas message upon. (It was the shortest message I would preach all year!)

         One of my favourites was the scene where Scrooge was visited by Marley’s ghost: “I wear the chain I forged in life… I made it link by link, and yard by yard; I girded it on of my own free will, and of my own free will I wore it.”

         To me this is where Dickens came closest to sharing the Gospel with his readers. The picture of the chain juxtapositioned with the beautiful simplicity of the message of Christmas. Jesus came to break those chains that bind us. That first Christmas I celebrated Christmas as one who had his chains removed by the sinless Son of God, born that day so many years ago.

As you celebrate Christmas, thank God for removing those chains and thank Him that He gave us the greatest gift. Merry Christmas.