The Wise Still Follow

Matthew 2:1-12

Star of Wonder, Star of Light.
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to Thy perfect light.

The familiar chorus from We Three Kings makes me wonder how His perfect light can lead us this Christmas season.

Let’s look back and compare how the religious teachers, Herod, and the wise men saw this perfect light. What did they know about Jesus and how did they act on the Light they were given? Both Herod and the Magi use names that reveal they understood the power of the One prophesied to be coming: King of the Jews, Messiah, Ruler. The Magi recognize Him as King of the Jews. When Herod the King and all of Jerusalem are troubled by the wise men’s search, Herod inquires where the Messiah is to be born. The chief priests and scribes answer with a quote from Micah 5:2, revealing that a Ruler will be born in Bethlehem of Judea.

Though Herod, the Magi, the Chief Priests, and scribes all believe the  Messiah is someone special, they respond differently. King Herod asks where the Christ is to be found but won’t go five miles to Bethlehem to check it out. He believes enough to fear Him, but not enough to go and see. “All of Jerusalem” doesn’t bother to seek Him either. But the Magi travel a great distance. They give their time, money, and energy. With great joy they follow the star on a journey of faith to seek the King. 

The first six words of We Three Kings (of Orient Are) hold three fallacies: they were magi, not kings; their exact number is unknown; and we are not told specifically that they were from the Orient. Nevertheless, these philosophic astrologers came. They knew the prophecy and acted on it. They were wise enough to seek the one true King, and because they sought Him, they would find Him. Later God used them to expand the Christmas story to distant lands as they returned home. And today it reminds us that not only was the good news of the Messiah given to poor, lowly shepherds, but to these wealthy and learned non-Jews. And so, their pursuit of the King is an example for all of us.

This Christmas let’s ask, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?” And together respond, “We see his star in the east and have come to worship him!” (Matt. 2:2) May the perfect Light of Jesus our Messiah and King guide us to seek and worship Him not only during the Christmas season, but all year round.

TO PONDER IN YOUR HEART: Are we wise enough to act on everything we know about God?

Day 7 ~ 12 Days of Christmas 2010

Our Family Tree…Some trees are decorated to match a color scheme or homeowner’s interests; this family tree is filled with priceless memories and stories.

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4 Simple Ornaments…Spend some time with your children making these simple heirloom ornaments.

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Feel free to see all 12 Days of Christmas 2010 (located in the top navgational bar) at MMCW. Or go through back issues here.

You may enjoy from our archives Celebrating Jesus’ Birthday and Happy Birthday Jesus Party.

 

I’m Celebrating with the Shepherds

Luke 2:8-20

I used to pity the shepherds, but this year I’m celebrating Christmas with them.

Picture this: on a warm clear night, lowly shepherds were out in an Israeli field with their flock of sheep.  These dirty shepherds, who lived outside with their animals, were not the type that would be invited to your next dinner party.

The Gospel of Luke records that without any warning, the heavens blazed with the glory of heaven.  The shepherds were petrified.  They saw and heard angels loudly proclaim the news that the promised Messiah had just been born in a stable. The God of love  had intersected time and space.  The shepherds immediately ran to Bethlehem to get in on the news of the ages.

It was no accident that the good news was told first to the shepherds.  Everyone else would have minded going to a smelly hay-filled barn to see the Baby King.  But not the shepherds; it was familiar turf.

As soon as the shepherds came face to face with Jesus in the stable, they could not keep the glory of the Lord to themselves.  People might have thought the riffraff shepherds were drunk.  But the shepherds were sure of what they had seen and they told others. “And all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.” Luke 2:18

Sometimes I feel a little bit like the shepherds.  My family and friends are enjoying Christmas celebrations and as a mom, I am working to make the festive events nice for everyone else. I’m like a shepherd tending the sheep (the food source).  Let’s be honest, for us moms, Christmas can be summed up in one word–work.

So how do I have my own Christmas celebration? As moms, we need to find a little slice of Christmas early in December.  It could be attending a production of the Messiah, passing out plates of chicken and gravy at a homeless shelter, visiting a shut-in neighbor, listening to a friend play Christmas carols on the piano, or attending a special worship service.

I have found my personal celebration of Christmas the last six years at a live outdoor Christmas nativity at a church in my neighborhood. I go and see the donkey, some little lambs, the curious goat, the unsanded wooden manger, and the leaning A-frame shelter with starry sky for a ceiling.  The animals almost seem to understand.  And there’s me sobbing, worshipping the humble One who arrived on this earth as a baby.  Praying I can be more like Him. Loving Him so dearly and knowing that He loves me even more. Thanking Him for being willing to humble Himself and come to earth.

This Christmas, you can find me at Olive and Vail Streets, smitten and awed by the Shepherd-like Child King.  After I’ve been touched by the humble Shepherd, I’ll be able to work to give my family their Christmas celebration.

Five Reasons I’m Celebrating Christmas with the Shepherds

1.  The shepherds were sacrificial.  They were willing to lay down their lives for their flock if necessary.  Even when the shepherds got the heavenly wake-up call, probably one shepherd had to stay behind with the sheep.

2.  The shepherds were humble.  They didn’t have intellectual pride or they would not have believed the King could come as a lowly baby.  They didn’t have material or social pride because they hung out with sheep.  They didn’t have religious pride because as shepherds they could not enter the Temple.

3.  The shepherds were courageous.  They didn’t let fear of the unusual keep them from answering the call.  (Since when is running toward God a bad thing?)

4.  The shepherds were changed. If an adjective could be put in front of the shepherds’ conversion, it would be “wonderously” saved.  They walked, smelled, sang, and loved differently.  God had not just changed them, He had rearranged them.

5.  The shepherds were obedient–immediately.  They didn’t make the new Baby wait.  They had no trouble following, once they heard God’s heavenly call.

TO PONDER IN YOUR HEART:  I have been changed by the nativity, so I am going out to tell everyone I know, including the shepherds in my life.  In fact, maybe that is who I will tell first. Who will you tell?

The Savior Is Born

Luke 2:1-7

“Really, God?  Is this really happening? How can I cope with this?”

Have you ever felt that way?  Maybe you are feeling that way even now as you navigate the Christmas season.  Mary and Joseph may have felt that way, too.  Joseph faced many challenges as he took care of his young family.  The Roman government demanded they travel to Bethlehem for the census. Upon arrival accommodations were almost non-existent, and Mary was due to deliver her child immediately.  The couple was forced to sleep in a cave-like dwelling where animals were kept.  During the night God brought forth His Son who was wrapped in cloths and placed in a feeding trough. There was no pomp or finery, just a simple birth in a primitive place with lowly shepherds showing up to see the newborn.

Although our world is very different, you may be feeling overwhelmed by the unique challenges you face today.  With demands being made on you, limited resources and many struggles outside your control, it is easy to become stressed out.  Be encouraged, among the many things the Christmas story teaches us, it reminds us that God is in control.  There are no accidents with Him.  God knew the Romans would be taking a census and that rooms would be limited. He even knew the exact date and hour His Son would enter the world.  Jesus fulfilled prophecy by where, how and to whom He was born.  It was all a part of God’s divine plan.

Your challenges are a part of God’s plan as well.  You may not understand, but you can trust that God is in control.  There are no accidents with Him.  When you begin to feel stressed this Christmas, take time to thank God that He is in control.  And give praise to the Son who overcame every challenge that life–and death–could throw at Him.

TO PONDER IN YOUR HEART: We have an all-knowing, all-powerful God who has never once had to say “Oops!”

Day 6 ~ 12 Days of Christmas 2010

Designer Magnets…Who would have thought Christmas magnets would be so much fun? Custom design yours for perfect teacher and coach gifts this year.

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Here’s a few favorites from our archives: Gifts Galore and Last Minute Stocking Stuffers. 

Feel free to see all 12 Days of Christmas 2010 (located in the top navgational bar) at MMCW. Or go through back issues here.

 

Day 5 ~ 12 Days of Christmas 2010

Simple Fudge…A decadent Christmas favorite, fudge is easy to dress up with a variety of special extras such as nuts and crushed candy. Give this easy-to-adapt recipe a try this year.

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Christmas Radio Theater…Planning some road trips this holiday season? Listen for free from your computer or download classic stories to inspire your family:  The Story of Silent Night,  A Christmas Carol, and Miracle on 34th Street.

Feel free to see all 12 Days of Christmas 2010 (located in the top navgational bar) at MMCW.  Or go through back issues here.

Here’s a few favorites from our archives: Microwave Divinity and  Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls and Chocolate Chip Cheese Ball.

 

Mary’s Song

Luke 1:46-55

My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior…for the Mighty One has done great things for me–holy is his name. Luke 1:46, 49 (NIV).

One Saturday, our daughter and her husband invited us to meet them for dinner at a restaurant. As we finished, our daughter handed us a gift.

“What’s this?” I asked. “It’s not a special occasion.”

“Open it and see.” They both grinned.

Inside we found a photo frame inscribed with, “I love Grandpa and Grandma.” These were new titles for us. It was indeed a special occasion–the unexpected announcement that we would become grandparents. What exciting news! Our firstborn was expecting her firstborn.

In the book of Luke, a young woman named Mary also received a surprise announcement. She, too, became pregnant, but her circumstances appeared less than ideal. As an unmarried virgin, rumors and stigma would be connected with her pregnancy. Even Joseph, her fiance’, planned to break the engagement after he heard about her situation.

What was Mary’s response to this life-changing news? Did she wring her hands, complain, or ask, “Why me?” No, she praised God. Her beautiful song is recorded for us to read and emulate. Mary glorified the Lord, and her spirit rejoiced in God her Savior (vv. 46-47). She recognized God’s sovereignty and acknowledged His plan to bless future generations through her (v. 48). The Message expresses her joyful response this way: “I’m bursting with God-news; I’m dancing the song of my Savior God. God took one good look at me, and look what happened–I’m the most fortunate woman on earth! What God has done for me will never be forgotten.”

Mary’s jubilant response startles me. It was easy to praise God when our daughter announced her pregnancy. But how would I have reacted if Mary were my daughter–or if I had been Mary? Do I praise God when he allows unexpected events to enter my life? May I grow to respond like Mary: “My soul glorifies the Lord…for the Mighty One has done great things for me–holy is his name.”

My response:  Sovereign Lord, thank you for the example of Mary, who was willing to fulfill your purposes. Thank you for her song of praise that shows me how to worship you. Help me, like Mary, to see the unexpected things that enter my life as occasions to praise you.

TO PONDER IN YOUR HEART: Mary praised God from the overflow of an overwhelmed heart. Do I?

Day 4 ~ 12 Days of Christmas 2010

Gift Wrapping Made Easy…Set up a year-round gift-wrapping station with these easy ideas.

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Peppermint Bark…Probably the best and easiest Christmas treat to make ever! Simply gorgeous in cellophane bags tied with Christmas ribbon–perfect for gifting.

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Feel free to see all 12 Days of Christmas 2010 (located in the top navgational bar) at MMCW. Or go through back issues here.

This season you may enjoy from our archives:  Peppermint Chocolate Pie and Peppermint Punch.

 

Womb to Womb

Luke 1:39-45

Here’s the scenario, a young teenage girl who is not married, just found out she is pregnant.  She is told things that she does not fully understand, and she is not given much in the way of reassurance that her family–or her fiance’–will receive the news in a favorable fashion.

In our day, a scenario like that might be viewed as common and dismissed as an event of little to no importance. Teenage pregnancy and out-of-wedlock motherhood is rampant in our society. Most teenage girls in this situation today would seek advice from other young and perhaps immature friends. And they might make a decision that could weigh heavily on their own future or that of the child (even affecting the child’s survival).  However, Mary did neither.  She remembered her cousin Elizabeth was with child. Mary felt that somehow her cousin would understand, given that Elizabeth and her husband were having a miracle child of their own.

When Mary arrived at her home, Elizabeth had no reason to doubt Mary’s story. She was experiencing a God- journey of her own.  I believe, when they saw each other, instantaneously they both knew that God had brought them together for such a time.  For Elizabeth, it was to raise a child, “John the Baptist,” who would prepare the way for the coming Messiah. And for Mary, it was to raise the child who would become the fulfillment of the promise–Jesus, the Messiah.

Each woman was carrying a special child, and each woman was probably facing similar fears and concerns.  Yet when they met, the Holy Spirit brought them an inner peace. God reassured them that His plan would be fulfilled regardless of their own humanity and weakness.

TO PONDER IN YOUR HEART: The baby Elizabeth carried in her womb recognized the baby Mary carried in her womb–Jesus. Do we recognize Jesus when He comes to us in extraordinary places or unusual ways?

Behold, the Handmaid of the Lord

“And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.” Luke 1:38

These are the words Mary spoke right after the angel told her the most astonishing news any woman has ever heard.  She was to be overshadowed by the power of the Most High, and she would conceive a son by the power of the Holy Spirit.  She was to be entrusted with the care and rearing of the holy Son of God.  What a weight of responsibility she would bear! The entire course of her life was about to be radically altered.  Yet she responded, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.”

Mary might have guessed when she spoke those words that Joseph wouldn’t understand this virgin conception.  Indeed, he made plans to divorce her quietly.  And although he did follow through with the marriage after his own angelic visitation, Mary still had plenty of hardship to endure.

She had to travel a long distance, while uncomfortably pregnant, to comply with an inconvenient census.  As she anticipated the birth of her first child she surely never imagined she would have to wrap him in strips of cloth and place him in a manger to sleep. Yet that is what she did.  Behold the handmaid of the Lord.

How hard it must have been to hear the prophecy spoken by Simeon.  Her child would be a sign that would be spoken against, and a sword would pierce her own soul, too.  God was telling her that both their futures would be marred by dark clouds.  Even during his baby days the young mother could not relax, for King Herod wanted to kill her baby.  The family was forced to flee the country in the middle of the night and live in exile for years.  Behold the handmaid of the Lord!

I am humbled by Mary’s words.  So often my prayer is that God will give me the life I want, instead of asking Him to enable me to want the life He gives, even with its dark clouds.

This season I’m thinking about Mary, and asking God to give me a heart like hers.   Shall we be like Job’s wife, accepting good from God, but not trouble?  May it never be!  When trials come, I pray the Lord will give me the faith to be like Joseph’s wife, a woman who says, “Be it unto me according to thy word.”

TO PONDER IN YOUR HEART:  This Christmas may I accept what God has for me in my life as willingly and gracefully as Mary did in hers.

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