Monday Messages: All I Want For Christmas Is... "Mas Christ"

I hope you guys are enjoying this series! This series has been all about keeping the true meaning of Christmas around, obviously. In Spanish, the word "mas" means "more." Seriously, the more Christ that we are gonna have in Christmas, the better. Today's message is going to be all about spreading the love of Christ by serving others.

During this season, there are probably 100 different things that you could do to serve others. Some of those are going to a local homeless shelter (seriously they are everywhere), helping at a community cupboard, buy a homeless person a lunch, or as I mentioned before, buy the car behind you's food or drink at Starbucks or Taco Bell in the drive thru. This leads us right into our bible reading for this week.

Today's reading is going to come from Matthew 25:37-46.

37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ 41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink;43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ 44 “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ 45 Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ 46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

This entire package talks about serving others. Did you know that whatever you did got even the lowest of people, you did for Jesus? The main verse I want to focus on, though, is 40. Jesus assures us that no matter who we help, we helped Him. God/Jesus created each and every one of us very uniquely. Even identical twins! So no matter what mistakes that you have made, Jesus is still very much a part of you and a part of Him is with you. You can never change that no matter how hard you try. My main point is, you can't make a mistake big enough for God to leave you because you're a part of Him and you can always serve Him.

So as I close out this message and this 3-week mini-series, I challenge you, just like I have before. Go out, spend an hour at the senior center or homeless shelter. Tell them about Christmas. Tell them about Jesus. Make sure you walk out of there with changing a life. Just like with the candy canes, it will bless you and others! :)

Until Next Time, Alex

Monday Messages: All I Want For Christmas Is... "Christmas Must Be Something More"

Welcome to week 6 of Monday Messages! This is a start of new series on my blog titled "All I Want For Christmas Is ___." All around the time of Christmas, we all want something. Whether that is a kiss under the mistletoe or the new iPhone, the true meaning of Christmas gets lost. There is only one reason that we celebrate this holiday and that is because our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ was born. Not because some fat guy comes down the chimney to satisfy our wants and needs.

You may not associate Taylor Swift with being the most worshipful or Christian person in the world, but back in 2007, she released a Christmas EP which had two original songs. One was "Christmas Must Be Something More." The lyrics are as follows:

What if ribbons and bows didn't mean a thing
Would the song still survive without five golden rings
Would you still wanna kiss without mistletoe
What would happen if God never let it snow
What would happen if Christmas carols told a lie
Tell me what would you find

You'd see that today holds something special
Something holy, not superficial
So here's to the birthday boy who saved our lives
It's something we all try to ignore
And put a wreath up on your door
So here's something you should know that is for sure
Christmas must be something more

What if angels did not pay attention to
All the things that we wished they would always do
What if happiness came in a cardboard box
Then I think there is something we all forgot
What would happen if presents all went away
Tell me what would you find

You'd see that today holds something special
Something holy, not superficial
So here's to the birthday boy who saved our lives
It's something we all try to ignore
And put a wreath up on your door
So here's something you should know that is for sure
Christmas must be something more

We get so caught up in all of it
Business and relationships
Hundred mile an hour lives
And it's this time of year
And everybody's here
It seems the last thing on your mind

Is that the day holds something special
Something holy, not superficial
So here's to Jesus Christ who saved our lives
It's something we all try to ignore
And put a wreath up on your door
But here's something you should know that is for sure
Christmas must be something
Christmas must be something
Christmas must be something more

There's gotta be more
There's gotta be more

Now I don't know about you, but no artist, Christian alike, has ever hit the hammer on the head like she did. I believe every lyric in that song came from her heart and I think everyone needs to hear the lyrics because it will hit them hard.

Today's Bible passage comes from Deuteronomy 6:10-19.

10 “So it shall be, when the Lord your God brings you into the land of which He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give you large and beautiful cities which you did not build, 11 houses full of all good things, which you did not fill, hewn-out wells which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant—when you have eaten and are full— 12 then beware, lest you forget the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. 13 You shall fear the Lord your God and serve Him, and shall take oaths in His name. 14 You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are all around you 15 (for the Lord your God is a jealous God among you), lest the anger of the Lord your God be aroused against you and destroy you from the face of the earth. 16 “You shall not tempt the Lord your God as you tempted Him in Massah. 17 You shall diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God, His testimonies, and His statutes which He has commanded you. 18 And you shall do what isright and good in the sight of the Lord, that it may be well with you, and that you may go in and possess the good land of which the Lord swore to your fathers, 19 to cast out all your enemies from before you, as the Lord has spoken.

The main verse I would like to focus on today is 12. The reason I want to look at it is because it talks about forgetting God. Like I said a little earlier, we seem to forget God and Jesus, who are the true reason for the season. We even were arguing a few weeks back about a non-Christian company removing the Christmas decorations from their cups. The old designs we also snowmen, Christmas trees or ornaments. Last time I checked, those aren't Christian Christmas designs. We need to stop in all our business during this time of the year and focus on the true meaning. We have all gotten lost in it, me included, when last year I worked an 8 to 9 hour shift at Macy's 6 days a week. I invite you to step back a little bit and show God's meaning of Christmas to an unsuspecting stranger this season by buying them a coffee or praying for them. I hope to inspire you this Holiday season.

Until Next Time, Alex