Orange Moon Thursday, December 25, 2025 "The Meaning"

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…

  

"The Meaning"

      Christmas 2025         

    

  Amid the happy moments of the season, I recently experienced a particularly sad occasion upon hearing a lady describe what Christmas means to her.

    "It primarily means family, and being together, gathering to enjoy one another's company, sharing a meal and gifts, and being glad to have time together."

   The woman responded during a tour of her beautiful home in New York City, decorated with lovely trees, wreaths, and all the elements that have come to characterize so much of the Christmas commemoration and festivities.  I enjoyed seeing the fruits of her creativity and her obvious desire to make the season special to family, friends, and her own heart.  One could not see her home without appreciating the time, effort, expense, and obvious delight she expended to commemorate Christmas.

   My sadness, however, resulted from the woman's response that Christmas does not mean to her the very beating Heart of the season.  I so wish for her and pray for her that in time to come, she might respond to any question about what Christmas means with this:

    "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

    Every tradition and observance of Christmas bows before the true glory of its reality and significance.  We can appreciate and enjoy the elements of the season without doing injury to its wondrous true reality and meaning.  "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son" must be so central in our observance of Christmas that nothing else compares.  Christmas is indeed Christ, the remembrance and affirmation of His entrance into the world, and of all that will eternally proceed from the wonder of His incarnation, life, death, resurrection, and coming reign.  Yes, we could lose everything else that graces the season, but so long as John 3:16 abides, so will Christmas and it glorious meaning.

"And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son."

(I John 5:11)

Weekly Memory Verse

    I am the Lord.  I change not.

(Malachi 3:6)

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Orange Moon Wednesday, December 24, 2025 "Here Is Christmas!"

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…

   

"Here Is Christmas!"         

    

Here is Christmas, it comes once again,

bringing its message of redemption from our sin.

Here is the Child promised long ago 

to lead us to the Father, whom every heart must know.

Oh, here is Christmas,  let your hearts rejoice!

May praises and thanksgivings

be heard from every voice.

Oh, here is Christmas!

To Bethlehem the Baby came in humility,

to save us from our pride and from our self sufficiency.

He showed how to live, and then He showed us how to die.

He shed His blood and gave His life to pay the awful price.

Oh, here is Christmas,  let your hearts rejoice!

May praises and thanksgivings

be heard from every voice.

Oh, here is Christmas!

I hear the bells of Christmas singing, ringing once again,

telling of the blessed morn that promises to men.

The Light still shines in darkness, illuminating the way,

for Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem on Christmas Day!

Oh, here is Christmas,  let your hearts rejoice!

May praises and thanksgivings

be heard from every voice.

Oh, here is Christmas!

"For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulder.  And His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace."

(Isaiah 9:6)

Weekly Memory Verse

    I am the Lord.  I change not.

(Malachi 3:6)

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Orange Moon Tuesday, December 23, 2025 "Prayer Works?"

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…

   

"Prayer Works?"         

    

     I recently saw a bumper sticker that stated, "Prayer works."

     Does it?  Or rather, does prayer result in God's working?  This more accurately states Biblical truth as we seek to offer our requests in accordance with Scripture and the Holy Spirit's leading.

    "And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us" (I John 5:14).

    True prayer involves deep humility as we seek the involvement and actions of God regarding matters that transcend our abilities.  This includes the acknowledgment of our need for His guidance in making our requests "according to His will."  Communion with an infinite, eternal God we cannot see, hear, or touch?  How can we believe ourselves capable of such a wonder?  We cannot, in and of ourselves.  "Without Me, ye can do nothing" declared the Lord Jesus Christ (John 15:5).  Surely He included prayer in this stark declaration of our need.  Indeed, we do well to pray much about our praying in the light of who God is and who we are.  The disciples did so.  "Lord, teach us to pray" (Luke 11:1).  No wiser request has ever been offered in human history, nor is one forthcoming for all who seek to walk with God in genuine faith and faithfulness. 

   Recognizing that prayer requires the humility of "Without Me ye can do nothing" establishes the footing of heart and mind that leads us to effectually bow our knees before our Lord.  As we ask God to do what only He can do with the attitude and awareness that even our asking requires His gracious guidance, we more likely "pray with the understanding" of what communion with our Heavenly Father actually involves (I Corinthians 14:15).   Prayer works?  We can say this, so long as we thereby mean it works by seeking God's working to do that which only He can do - including His leadership and enabling of our praying.

"O send out Thy light and Thy truth: let them lead me, let them bring me unto Thy holy hill, and to Thy tabernacles."

(Psalm 43:3)

Weekly Memory Verse

    I am the Lord.  I change not.

(Malachi 3:6)

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