Dear Santa,
I know it has been a long time since you've heard from me in a letter. In fact, I haven't written you a letter since before the digital revolution happened. So I thought perhaps an email might be the most expedient way of visiting with you for a minute. Do you get the internet at the North Pole?
Anyways, it seems that over the years, I've gotten too busy to clue you in on my list for the year. Not sure how or why I stopped checking in with you annually. Much has happened since we last interacted.
One of the most exciting new things is the blog that I started a few years back. Perhaps you've heard of it!? It's called Tuesday's Musical Notes! Do you read many blogs in your spare time? Well, you should probably read The Notes if you get the opportunity! You know, like in the summer?
Tuesday's Musical Notes comes out every Tuesday. It is a blog that uses popular music from all ages to inspire, encourage, and sometimes challenge readers in their family and faith and throws in some total life change for good measure.
I even include Christmas songs during December! Why just last week the blog was all about you, well at least the song was... Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town"
While I have made my Christmas lists over the past few years to give to friends and family, I can hardly remember when I told you what I wanted for Christmas. After much thought and deliberation, I determined a song would be the best way to communicate to you my desires for this holiday season.
So, Merry Christmas St. Nicholas, do what you can with this list, and enjoy the sounds of the season for just a few minutes before you start getting the reindeer ready to be hitched to the sleigh...
Written by David Foster and Linda Thompson-Jenner in 1990, "Grown Up Christmas List" was first recorded by Foster and Natalie Cole on Foster's nonseasonal album River of Love. The song has since been covered by a myriad of performers. In this humble bloggers opinion, the best is Amy Grant's cover. She even added her own touch with an additional verse.
While not setting the Billboard hearts aflutter, the song HAS charted. Kelly Clarkson's version peaked at #17 on the Adult Contemporary Chart and Grant's version went to #15 on the Christian Digital Singles Chart. Who even knew there was a Christian Digital Singles Chart? Just goes to show that there really is a musical chart for everything.
In the spirit of the season, let's take a look at the items on this "Grown Up Christmas List", shall we?
1) No more lives torn apart:
What does this even mean? It seems like every day there is a tragedy of some sort. And usually, these tragedies affect more than just the principal players. Lives torn apart indicates some sort of separation from those that were at one time close. This can happen in any number of ways, but to my thinking, divorce happens to be the most insidious of the ways. There is something so unnatural about two folks determining that they no longer can be one after the consummation of marriage. This tearing apart what has been put together is not the intention of the Creator: Genesis 2:21-24 Christian Standard Bible/ The Message paraphrase of the Bible/King James Version of the Bible parallel Dear friend, please consider the vows that you make to others. But most importantly, consider those vows that you make to one in which you will give yourself to in the most intimate way.
2) That wars would never start:
Have you ever known of a time when there was no war? It always seems that just about the time the world is close to seeing a time of peace, some despot determines that he wants to be ruler over more land, or desires to commit genocide on those who are not like him. Scripture promises that we will continue to see war, but it also promises that there is an end in sight. The Gospel of Jesus according to the Disciple Matthew, chapter 24, verses 3-8 CSB/The Message/KJV
Dear friend, today is the day of salvation! God knows every person who will be redeemed by Jesus. Wars and rumors of wars are not the indicators that He is about to call believers to be with Himself. The ultimate restoration for the believer occurs when every nation, tribe, and tongue has had the opportunity to hear the Gospel. Matthew 24:9-14 CSB/The Message/KJV Depending on the source, there are anywhere from 1000-3600 unreached, unengaged people groups in the world. This represents over 8 million people who have never heard the name Jesus, much less His story. The question begs: What are you doing to see that these people hear about the Good News of Jesus and thus ushering in His return?
The story of Joseph in the Bible has a theme; what was intended for bad, God intended for good. Wars are terrible, destructive things. But God intends for good to come of them. Many wars bring about the persecution of Christians. The biggest spread of the Gospel has always occurred when Christians are persecuted. Acts of the Apostles, chapter 8, verses 3-8 CSB/The Message/KJV This spreading of Jesus' story resulted in joy for the cities where the persecuted Christians fled because they were diligent to the calling on their lives.
3) ...And time will heal all hearts:
This will happen for those who follow Jesus. Revelation 21:1-5 CSB/The Message/KJV Can you imagine? No more heartache. No more sorrow. No more darkness. No more lives torn apart, and wars will never start, and He will heal our hearts.
4) Every man would have a friend:
Think about the circle of folks around you. Do you have a deep relationship with them or is it more of a cursory knowledge of who they are? Are you willing to lay down your life for them? The Gospel of Jesus according to the Disciple John, chapter 15, verses 11-15 CSB/The Message/KJV Everybody needs a friend like this. Can you be one today to someone who needs it? Could be that there is a new friend just waiting for you to engage them.
5) Right would always win:
Injustice is a part of our lives in this fallen world. But as we have eluded, there is a time when justice prevails. John 3:16-18 CSB/The Message/KJV, Jesus provided the way for life with God and restoration to God. Justice will be served when He comes as the Righteous Judge over everyone. When Jesus comes as Judge, there will be two books in front of Him. Which book has your name in it? Revelation 20:11-15 CSB/The Message/KJV, "The Sheep and the Goats" by Keith Green from the August 11, 1981 album The Keith Green Collection, Matthew 25:31-46 CSB/The Message/KJV
6) ...And love would never end:
All of the above
7) Every man, woman, boy and girl in the generation of my influence would believe in Jesus, The Way, The Truth and The Life, the Name above all names, the Savior of mankind, and the Reason for the season. (This one isn't in the song, but 7 in the numerology of the Bible is the number for completion, lest we leave our list incomplete!)
There ya go, Mr. Claus. My Christmas list for 2018. It is quite different from my previous lists, of a Daisy beebe gun, a bike with the sissy bar, and Spirograph. But, hopefully, I have changed as well as I now see things through redeemed and restored eyes.
As I long for the world to hear about Jesus and His salvation, I now submit to you this, my grown-up Christmas list...Merry Christmas!!!
'Til Tuesday,
Serving HIM by serving You,
randy
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