Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:8 NASB)
I absolutely love Christmas. One of the things I love most about Christmas is the Christmas lights. The houses are decorated so beautifully. Well, most are decorated beautifully. Some look like the Griswolds. Anyway, when our kids were young I would drive the car around different neighborhoods with the family playing Christmas music and looking at all the exciting, wonderful, beautiful Christmas lights. We oohed and ahhed at each spectacle in lights.
One of the recurring themes in my mind has always been the fact that those lights, inflatables, and all the other decorations did not communicate the real meaning of Christmas. Oh, don’t get me wrong, we’ve been down that light path before, and have tried to figure out what lights were best. We have blown fuses with the best of them. Used money that we didn’t need to use, and unfortunately we have been in the competition of neighborhoods to have the prettiest lights. Many times we were just too busy during the month of November and December to get even one light lit.
This year I decided to do something different and make a bigger statement. My friend Carl Russell made a nine-foot cross, and my friend Pepe made a manger. As you can see in the picture, the cross and the manger are there to hopefully communicate very simply the full meaning of Christmas … from the cradle to the cross.
Lord I Lift Your Name On High
Lord, I love to sing Your praises
I’m so glad You’re in my life
I’m so glad You came to save us
[Chorus:]
You came from heaven to earth
To show the way
From the earth to the cross
My debt to pay
From the cross to the grave
From the grave to the sky
Lord, I lift Your name on high