Christmas Simplicity

Intro

easiest to deal with w/ simplicity

no guilt, no stress...

you’re here, probably not going to run out of here in a panic, at least not until service is over, so just settle...

That may be the key to this living with peace at any given moment—here’s where you are, so be here

more efficient where you are so actually do more w/ less time—create more space

better at relating because people know when you’re all the way there—builds teh very relationships that build you—might find actually happier b/c relating becomes rewarding

Great honor to God b/c learn to “be still...”

Mostly- there’s that one place that allows you to settle—God’s presence… w/ others who share…—sometimes more challenging with others, but only b/c leaves parts of you unexposed…somehow love of God always tied to love of others—the very ones who are loved b/c of the nature of love, not inherent loveliness

this is love...

need to define, b/c so many distorted versions

simple is best—always reset to love—calibrate—cf radar gun, scale, thermometer...”what’s teh touchopint for me to extend myself for you?…great risk—unfairness…yet that’s not really a risk—God who calls you to love somehow found that no fear of loss in surrendering fairness

“no man has given up...”

simplicity--

uncomplicated, unadorned, unaffected

cf stones of altar

misunderstandig

not waiting for wirthiness

desperate for “at-onement”—how can I get us together

not gkossing over problem—that’s not oneness; but rather, taking action to remove the disconnect

question to ask—why need this clarity?

start seeing the fullness of my experience of God’s love in my expression of love toward others—quit watering down the concept

where find not really happening like I thought, return to the experience pf God’s love for me—no fear of self-indulgence, more humility than anything else

Genesis 3:8–15 ESV

8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” 11 He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” 12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” 13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” 14 The Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. 15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

Isaiah 9:1–7 ESV

1 But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. 2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. 3 You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. 4 For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. 5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. 6 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. 7 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. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Luke 2:1–14 ESV

1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. 8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”