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As I've been pondering Christmas, aren’t we all looking for a mountain-top  experience this Christmas? As I ponder what I need to do to prepare for Christmas, Jesus keeps making it clear that strategically speaking, nothing matters more than His presence. In this episode, as we look at Luke 9, we'll ponder a mountain-top experience that Jesus had with his three closest friends. Our deepest need this Christmas is that God would give us the gift of a mountain-top experience with His presence. The deep need of our communities is a church that will finally get tired of trying to change the world without the power of God that comes from the presence of Christ.

And that’s what I’m praying for all of us this Christmas. God would you bring us up to the mountain!

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Way back in Luke 1, remember the angel came to Mary, the future mother of Jesus and said to her, "You are highly favored by God." Don't miss this, in this episode you will hear me say, "That same favor is for you." The favor of God was not just reserved for Mary. I mean Mary was amazing, but Mary didn't get more favor than God will give you. How did Mary gain the favor of God? She said, "Let it be to me according to your Word." She surrendered to God's Word. She was saying, "If you say so God." Don't miss how quickly Mary goes from "how can this be" to "if you say so" God. 

If we want to lean into the favor of God, we need to get better at saying, "If you say so." And if we do, the favor of God is for you! 

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In Luke 7, John the Baptist asks a really important Christmas-Prep question. "Jesus are  you the one, or should we keep looking?" Here is what I believe. I believe that every heart-longing you have, or think you have, every ache that arises when you see something or someone that you desire; when you dream of more success, or  wake up hoping you are somehow more attractive, when you drive by a bigger house and say I wish; when you say what you say or do what you do and then look
around hoping someone noticed...and perhaps will even applaud; what your soul truly longs for is Jesus.

We cannot prepare for Christmas, truly prepare if don't fix our eyes and our hearts on Jesus. Nothing compares to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus, Paul wrote.  He is the resurrection and the life, light of the world, Our Savior and King. The greatness of Christianity is Christ. The reward of following Jesus is Jesus. 

And so if we are going to truly prep for Christmas, we should ask and settle the question, "Jesus are you the one?"

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Right in the middle of Luke 6 is this kind of odd question that sticks out enough for me to pause and ponder. The question is, "What happens when the blind lead the blind?" So that leads me to my Christmas prep question for this episode. Do we really see people? Do we see them like God sees them? So much of Luke 6 challenges me to truly see people as God sees them, whether they are enemies, people living in the margins, people who have hurt me, offended me, or people whom it is easy for me to judge. Do we really see them? Do we see the glory of God in the lives of others?  Do we really see people or are we living life blind?

It's causing me to pray, "God give me eyes to see." 

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There is so much good stuff in Luke 5, but in this episode we are going to focus on a fishing story with this challenge, "Don't miss the boat." In church our Advent series is "More to Come" and last week, my challenge was "Don't miss Jesus, this Christmas." Same challenge in this episode but with different words.

In this episode we are going to see the life-giving, difference-making process that takes us from listening to the Words of God, learning from His truth, and then leaning in. Leaning in, requires an "if you say so, Jesus" attitude of trust.

This Christmas as you prepare to celebrate the birthday of Jesus, where do you need to say, "If you say so, Jesus?"

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In Luke 4, Jesus goes from baptism to battle. He goes from the affirming voice of God to the wilderness. What we will find is that God drove Jesus into the wilderness, because He loved and had a mission for him. God had a world-changing life-giving mission for Jesus and those kinds of missions are not given to those who have never suffered. You will not change the world, your community or your family, if you are not willing to go into the wilderness, because in the wildnerness God prepares you, for something greater.

Because God loves us, here comes the wilderness!

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Life is made up of moments, opportunities. Have you ever had an opportunity that you missed because you didn't prepare? Here's what I know; moments are not seized in a moment.  Life's greatest moments come to those who have prepared. John the Baptized was a man in the story of God, who prepared the way for Jesus.  His life-purpose came from the Prophet Isaiah, "A voice of one calling: 'In the desert prepare the way of the Lord.'  

What if that's part of God's promise to you. I know the world is dark, the culture is filled with chaos, conflict and uncertainty; it’s like a desert wilderness, but listen to me, a way is being prepared.

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As we listen to and ponder Luke 2. I think the main message is simpley, "Jesus is  the treasure of Christmas." When it comes to the continuing story of  Christmas, Jesus is written all over the pages of the book. It's so easy to focus on all the other elements. Shepherds and Wisemen and angels, oh my. Mangers and Santa and Elves, oh my. But nothing matters more than Jesus. Do we treasure him? Do we hold him in our hearts? When we are preparing for Christmas, do we find that we simply cannot stop thinking about Jesus?

Perhaps the best way to prepare for Christmas is by praying daily, "Father, just give me Jesus!"

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The full title of this advent Christmas series is “Christmas Preparations – 24 Days with Luke.” But I’m calling it "Christmas Prep" for short. Three plus years ago, we started this podcast with a jet-tour through the New Testament; the whole new testament in 40 episodes. We covered Luke back then, but it was 5-6 chapters an episode! For our Advent series we are going to read through Luke one chapter a day. With 24 chapters, we will read a chapter a day from December 1st to Christmas Eve. And as we do, we’ll see Jesus go from the baby in a manger to grown-up Jesus, King of the World. Christmas is not just the celebration of a baby’s birth, it’s the birthday of the King. 

And in this episode we are going to look at what needs to happen to be part of His Kingdom, the Big K!

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For our last episode on gratitude, I’m going to read a very familiar Psalm, Psalm 23. It might not even mention gratitude or thanksgiving but if you believe the Psalm is true, it will give you all kinds of things which could explode in gratitude! Psalm 23 is a description of a life that has been blessed beyond belief. That's not a bad phrase to carry around in our hearts as we make our way from Thanksgiving to Christmas. As we shop and sing and bake and eat...and eat...and eat; it's good to be reminded that in so many ways that don't require a credit card or a receipt...

We have been blessed beyond belief.