Too early to talk about Christmas??

We have an unofficial game we play in our family. We try to see who spots the first glimpses of Christmas marketing in stores. I think the earliest account was reported in mid-August. Businesses and retail stores try to get in on the money train called 'early Christmas shopping' and boost their profit margins. Our family agreed on mid August being entirely way too soon to promote Christmas. Except, I have been wrestling with this game. Are we in the Church missing opportunities to get in on the 'promote Jesus' train?

We are fast approaching one month till Christmas arrives. I wonder how many churches are promoting the birth of Jesus Christ earlier in the year? Shouldn't we promote Jesus and his birth year round? Isn't Jesus' death and resurrection something to promote and celebrate daily? Following the Christian calendar calls the church to begin celebrating Christmas the first Sunday in Advent. This year, that first Sunday is November 29th. From my perspective, we are already well behind the rest of the world.

I would love to see the Church get ahead of the curve of culture and sound a clarion call of "Jesus is Lord of all!" year round" Claiming our identity as a Christian church and nation is to reclaim Jesus as Lord. When He is Lord, our lives look and sound different than the rest of the world. We are aliens living in a foreign world and we understand this isn't our home.

The musings you read here every day are simply my observations of things nearby that remind me of God's constant presence. In some ways, stores are unknowingly promoting Jesus without intending to. We see Christmas in mid-August and groan, but maybe we should approach the store manager and thank them for being so proactive in their faith. I am encouraged to think God reveals His glory and character in some of the simplest places and objects. Take for instance the apple I had for breakfast today. You do know about the star. Right??

Cutting an apple perpendicular to the stem allows the image of a star to be seen. No big deal, I suppose, but for me it is a gentle reminder of that star in the East that caused so many curious folks to wonder then wander to meet a newborn King.

Evolutionists would suggest some sort of reasoning as to the star design in the apple....I like to think of a creative God who chooses to reveal Himself in all things. What do you think? Is it ever too early to promote the birth, death, resurrection, or ascension of Jesus? Do you notice images of God in everyday mundane things? I hope so! If not, slow down today and begin to look more closely.

"O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the

heavens. From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to

silence the foe and the avenger. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and

the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you

care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and

honor. You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet: all flocks

and herds, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths

of the seas. O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!" (Psalm 8, NIV)

Friends, we possess the image of God within us and walk around everyday amongst those who don't know Jesus much less believe in Him. Are you offering the world a glimpse of that godly image so they might come to faith? Go be a distinct godly image to the world and show Jesus. Let His light shine.