The Next Level Christmas

Christmas is just days away! At Hospitals of Hope we’ve gotten into the Christmas spirit thanks to Bob decorating the our tree and others bringing in holiday snacks! Christmas is such an exciting time with all the decorations, the music, the holiday traditions, time with family and so much more. But we would be doing ourselves an injustice if we did not take time to reflect on more that just the surface level excitement of Christmas.

As Christians, we take Christmas to the next level by celebrating the birth of Jesus, the Son of God. The story of Christ’s birth is a testament to God’s power, love, and grace and gives us all a reminder of the hope we have in Christ.

But is that the ultimate end of celebrating Christmas – celebrating Jesus’ birth? I think there is yet another level with Christmas. While Jesus’ birth is reason to reflect and celebrate, his life and time of ministry give us an incredible example for the holiday season.

Jesus spent much of his time on earth healing the sick and caring for the poor and loving those that weren’t loved. When a widow’s son died, he brought him back to life. When ten lepers met Jesus while he was traveling, he healed them all even though only one came back to thank him. He talked to individuals like a tax collector and a prostitute that were considered the outcast of society.

Jesus himself stated why he had come in Luke 4:18 “…he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed.”

James, the brother of Jesus later wrote “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” (James 1:27)

Christmas time is fun with all the festivities, traditions, and presents. But what better way to take Christmas to the next level than by following the example he left of caring for those who need it. It is easy to get caught up in the endless gift lists and holiday parties. But we hope that you take time not just to celebrate Jesus's birth, but to be Jesus to those around you and those in need around the world this Christmas season.

We are very grateful for many of you following the example of Christ and helping us with the mission of caring for the sick and bringing hope of Jesus to so many. Thanks to your support and encouragement, Hospitals of Hope has been able to continue in another year of ministry of bringing healing to bodies and souls around the world. Without your financial gifts, prayers, and encouragement we would not be able to have the impact that we have had. We do wish you a Merry Christmas and we hope you are surrounded by the beauty and hope of this Christmas season.

Thank you for an amazing year and we are excited for another great year of bringing Christ’s love and healing around the world.

My Soul Glorifies the Lord

This time of year, we spend a lot of time talking about Mary – a very young woman, pregnant out of wedlock, giving birth in a stable. We talk a lot about the joy she must have felt – the joy of being a mother, the joy of knowing that God was using her to bring his son into the world. Lately, though, I've started to wonder about the things Mary feared. She had been promised wonderful things, but she was also promised pain: “And a sword will pierce your own soul too" (Luke 2:35).

If there's one thing basically every mother I've ever met has in common, it's that they worry. And the worries of a mother in the developing world are on a whole different scale from those of many of the mothers I know. Did these things bother Mary, too? Mary's first response to the angel was, after all, to be "greatly troubled" (Luke 1:29).

I wonder if Mary worried about practical things. In Bolivia, I’ve met mothers who have little to nothing to feed their children, and I wonder if Mary, Joseph, and Jesus ever lacked food. On the journey to Bethlehem and when they fled to Egypt, did they ever wonder where their next meal would come from? They were a poor family, after all. Did Mary ever go without food so that her little boy could eat?

Did Mary worry about the dangers of childbearing? I have no idea what the maternal mortality rate was in the Roman Empire back then, but I imagine it wasn't very good. Did Mary ever worry about if she would survive to see her son grow up, to realize the promises the angel had made? As far as we know, the promises she received included nothing about what would happen to her.

Mary must have had at least moments of doubt and fear, of wondering how this was all going to work out and if she was doing what it was that God had picked her to do. Yet, in all of this, she sang,

My soul glorifies the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
to Abraham and his descendants forever,
even as he said to our fathers.
Luke 1:46-55

This Christmas, I’m praying for a bit more of Mary’s courage, and for all of the mothers around the world who share some of her fears. And I am praising the God who “has filled the hungry with good things” – who sent his Son to become fully human, to share in our sufferings, our hopes, and our joys.