<\/p>\n
‘Twas the Day after Christmas,<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n And all through the house.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n All the creatures were stirring,<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n scampering like a mouse…<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n There’s stuff under the tree, wrapping paper laying around, cookie crumbs on the dining room table.\u00a0 All sorts of new “Things” to play with, new clothes to wear, fresh things to look at.\u00a0 And there are a lot of new items added to the “To Do List”… gifts to be returned, clothes to be hung, stuff to be put away.<\/p>\n It seems that the hustle and bustle of Christmas doesn’t end on December 26.\u00a0 It just changes into a different list of things to hustle and bustle about.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n We know the Christmas story- Mary, Joseph, the Innkeeper, shepherds, angels.\u00a0 It’s all too familiar.<\/p>\n In our chapel is a stained glass window of The good Shepherd.\u00a0 Jesus is holding a little lamb, and a larger sheep But the lamb isn’t looking at its mother.\u00a0 It’s looking up,\u00a0 not down.\u00a0 The lamb is looking straight into Jesus’ eyes.\u00a0 The lamb is focused on The Lamb who picked her up.\u00a0 The lamb is not worried about the world.\u00a0 The lamb isn’t thinking about Christmas gifts; things she received or didn’t receive.<\/p>\n The lamb isn’t even thinking of her mother.\u00a0 She’s resting in the strong and\u00a0 loving arms of the Good Shepherd.\u00a0 The lamb is focused on The Lamb.<\/p>\n But what about the larger sheep?\u00a0 What about the mother (or father, or husband)… what is the larger sheep looking at.\u00a0 It is looking upward, but where are its eyes pointing?\u00a0 It’s not clear in the image.\u00a0 Is it looking at Jesus or is it looking at the lamb?<\/p>\n The lamb is a gift from the Lamb.\u00a0 Jesus is the Creator; He sustains us in all we do.<\/p>\n Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.\u00a0 In him was life, and that life was the light of men.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0 ( John 1:1-4)<\/div><\/div>\n <\/p>\n God created us to be in union with His Son- Jesus.\u00a0 And He also gave us freedom of choice.\u00a0 We can choose to be in “union with ourselves”… to focus on gifts, on the things we have to do, on the things we would rather have or do.\u00a0 Or And so, on this day after Christmas (or birthday, or 4th of July, or anniversary, or on whatever day or event you’re reading this…) what’s your focus right now?\u00a0 What’s your priority?\u00a0 Are you searching into the eyes of Jesus, grasping for His guiding Hand, thirsty to do His will?<\/p>\n Or are you looking at the gift; the things you want God to give you?\u00a0 Are you focused on your own ideas or desires, or are you committed to Jesus and to God’s love and grace?<\/p>\n We need to always remind ourselves:<\/p>\n It’s All About Jesus!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n A\u00a0 couple of months ago, Pastor Jim preached a three part sermon series on the “Supremacy of Christ.”\u00a0 The central theme of his sermon was “It’s All About Jesus.”\u00a0 He created us.\u00a0 He sustains us.\u00a0 We owe our all to Him.\u00a0 To explore this topic more deeply, check out the posts on this sermon series.<\/p>\n\n\t\tWhat Are You Looking At?<\/span><\/em><\/h3>\n
![\"ChapelWin-](\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/ChapelWin-Good-Shepherd-_DCP_7051-118x300.jpg\")
(presumably its mother) is standing by Jesus, looking up.<\/p>\nWhat’s it all Mean?<\/span><\/em><\/h3>\n
![\"Signboard](\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Signboard-2015-12-26-All-About-Jesus-_IMG_2888-300x225.jpg\")
we can let The Good Shepherd pick us up.\u00a0 We can look into His Eyes (the Bible, prayer, worship) and totally and honestly seek His will.\u00a0 This is His world, not ours.<\/p>\n
\nThe Supremacy of Christ<\/span><\/h3>\n