Faith & Insight: The joy of the lord

Well, here we are this last Saturday of 2023. Many folks didn’t go to the gym on Tuesday but did the day after Christmas sale workout. Traversing great distance as a marathon runner, stair-stepping on escalators as if climbing walls, bench pressing patience while in lines at signal lights and coffee shop drive-thru windows.

One thing was for sure and evident, if noticed and acknowledged. Christmas was officially being put away or in some cases “over.” Do you hear and see what I hear and see? Or conversely, what I do not see or hear? Decorations are quickly changing from green, gold, red and silver to the reds and pinks of Valentines and the music, though it fills the air it is not nearly as uplifting as the songs that announce the birth of Christ.

The very popular song from 1962, “Do you hear what I hear” was obvious to me as I look and heard about in the day.

Said the night wind to the little lamb

Do you see what I see?

Way up in the sky, little lamb

Do you see what I see?

Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy

Do you hear what I hear?

Ringing through the sky, shepherd boy

Do you hear what I hear?

The song reveals a progression announcement of a special child being born. This is the progression: The night wind speaks to the little lamb, the little lamb speaks to the shepherd boy, the shepherd boy speaks to the mighty king and low and behold the mighty king speaks to the people everywhere saying, “Listen to what I say,” that the people everywhere should pray for peace, people, everywhere. The song proclaims that this special child sleeping in the night will bring goodness and light!

If Christmas is celebrated and was merely an event on the calendar, then for those individuals, Christmas is officially over. If Christmas is celebrated as THE event on the calendar which leads to the salvation message of Jesus at Easter, then Christmas is officially a refreshing reminder of the true meaning of the season.

The song also speaks of bringing this special child gifts of silver and gold and we might add frankincense and myrrh, as we know the Wise Magi brought. They came with treasures of earth in their hands and left with the treasure of heaven in their hearts. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21.

May the Christmas music that touches our hearts now become the song on our lips as we encourage one another. As the decorations come down, may our lives replace them decoratively, as we represent the splendor of Jesus, the light of the world.

Let the ribbons and bows that we wrapped the gifts we gave be replaced with chords of love in Jesus Christ towards one another that cannot be broken.

What will this next year bring? Hope, I pray! What will we carry into this year that shows Christmas is every day as we continue to never lose its wonder! The joy of the lord!

Blessings of Christmas upon you and yours all the year through. Christmas is: love, peace, joy and HOPE! Happiest New Year, hope to see you often!

Pat Propster is lead pastor at Calvary Chapel Carson City.