Monday Morning Message 12.26.2022

Dearest Members of Bethlehem,

“Yet, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our

potter; we are all the work of your hand.” Isaiah 64:8

These are some of my favorite days. It’s still Christmas, and our

house looks like it. The decorations are certainly still up. There are a

couple of gifts lingering beneath the tree. And of course, the candy

dishes and cookie trays (while covered with plastic wrap) are still

littered about the living room and kitchen.

As I walk past, it’s not uncommon for me to pull back the covering and

enjoy a chocolate covered pretzel, a peanut butter blossom, and

then… well, nothing goes with a nice cup of coffee like a pizzelle. Do

you have any pizzelles left at your house? If so, I hope you’ll pause at

some point today and enjoy a few, or a half dozen.

You see, the pizzelle is not only a Christmas staple, it also serves as a

reminder of just how important our faith really is. Just think for a

minute about how pizzelles are made. You get all the right ingredients mixed up, all wonderful stuff in and of itself, but it still needs shaped and formed! So, we fire up the pizzelle maker, we pour in that batter, and we let things heat up a bit. And

when just the right amount of time passes, we have a thing of beauty.

Yep, that’s what I said, because… the glorious design present in the

pizzelle maker is permanently pressed into the cookie. You could

rightly say the pizzelle takes on the shape and beauty of its maker.

So, hopefully you see where I am going with this! These days, these

glorious twelve days of Christmas are not just a celebration. These

days are a time in which we can quite literally be shaped and molded

by God’s work in our lives. We are shaped and molded by the lessons, the carols, the worship, the traditions, and the fellowship that we share… and in the process

the children of God take on the shape and beauty of the Creator. We

the faithful, see the Light coming into the world, and all the while know

that we are called to be that light… “Let your light so shine before

others that they may see your good works and glorify your father in

heaven.”

I pray your time in this sacred season has been both meaningful and

inspiring thus far, and I hope you treasure and appreciate every one of

these precious days. And if you need a little reminder of just how

important this time really is, go ahead and have a pizzelle, and maybe

even a cup of coffee. It just might brighten your day!

Question for reflection: Who makes the best Christmas candy?

Asking for a friend.