Gratitude -
1. Peace - Hope - Joy - Love
and the message of preparation during ADVENT!
2. O Come All Ye Faithful... Christmas hymn
3. Anticipation - through the eyes of children
4. Anticipation - through the eyes of adults who have tasted the story, first hand!
5. Beth's fruit cake cookies.
Deep calls unto deep. Psalm 42:7
You will seek only what you have partially already discovered and seen within yourself as desirable. Spiritual cognition is invariably re-cognition. (RR)
Ask anyone who has known me for a long time - since childhood - and I have always been a bit different when it comes to faith issues. I always found it hard to find lots to 'repent' of, since I was born on a church pew and my parents made sure I would continue to be there each Sunday morning until I left home for college. I was never a deeply disturbed, nor problem child. I caused no one alarm when it came to being a well behaved son, brother, school student, etc. I was a good 'little man'.
Therefore when the pastor or my Sunday School teacher would preach or teach on 'changing your ways, or you will burn in hell' I generally thought they must be talking to the neighbor kid. I didn't have too many bad habits to 'change'.
Because I spent so many years in Sunday School and church, Vacation Bible School, and Training Union (be glad to explain this one) I knew the story and knew the players - most of all Jesus. It was not my heavenly father that I feared. It was the punishment my earthly father might dish out if he ever caught be doing anything bad.
I anticipate Christmas in a whole new light today. It is a special celebration to say the least. I look forward to it - but not for the same reasons of old. I use to look forward to preaching about Mary, Joseph, Wise Men, and Angels and Shepherds. But today, I look forward to the reminder that God loved us so much that He chose to come to earth in human terms. Incarnational terms. He was human like me...
That means that He looked on my personhood and said 'this is my creation, and it is good!'. I don't have to do anything to be saved. He has saved me all along. He created me. He is my FATHER and all He has ever wanted for me was GOOD.
What a shame that I learn to fear HIM. What had He ever done but loved me. He loves ALL His children - the whole of the human race. This Christmas business is just an annual reminder along the path.
I think it is sad that we get caught up with the 'baby' and never realize that He became a MAN! The MAN. The one true MAN of GOD. What a gift. He won - I don't have to win... He is worthy, even when I am not... He loves, even when I am unlovely...
What a GIFT - it has been there ALL LONG.
Yes indeed - Spiritual cognition is invariably re-cognition!!!
Hallelujah
Now you are on track in my view. You are right about recognition. It struck me in 1973, that people need to be taught to see. Yet what they are taught to see is not new, but was there all along. Re-cognition, as you say. Good points.
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