The shepherds have come to see, and returned home rejoicing!
The Christ Child has been born!
Let us all rejoice!
However even though the season is over, our personal Advent continues as we expectantly wait for the Lord's return. The day when God will make all things new again. The day when we will see our Savior face-to-face.
It could be today, so we should always live as though this might be the day.
The Nouwen devotion that I received earlier this week also spoke of our watching and waiting:
Recognizing the Lord
From: Gracias: A Latin American Journal
Be alert, be alert, so that you will be able to recognize your Lord in your husband, your wife, your parents, your children, your friends, your teachers, but also in all that you read in the daily newspapers. The Lord is coming, always coming. Be alert to his coming. When you have ears to hear and eyes to see, you will recognize him at any moment of your life. Life is Advent; life is recognizing the coming of the Lord… - Henri Nouwen
Let us all be ever mindful of the small ways that Christ reveals Himself in our lives today and every day!
At least for this year, the Advent Blog is done!
I want to thank everyone that contributed their stories this year, and I want to thank all of our readers! You are what make this blog/devotion a success.
In the past I have shown maps to demonstrate the reach of our blog. This year I thought I would use a chart instead.
As of December 23
This chart shows the actual number of page reads for our blog. Obviously, the majority of the page reads have been in the United States, However, as you can see we have had several people reading our blog in Singapore and Hong Kong!
It is always amazing to me the reach that a simple blog like this can have.
I hope that you have all enjoyed the Advent Blog this year. I want to finish up this time together with 2 versions of Silent Night.
I love Mannheim Steamroller's version of Silent Night!
I also love the more traditional version performed by The Piano Guys and Placido Domingo.
Called to Find Rest With You
Henri Nouwen From: Following Jesus: Finding Our Way Home in an Age of Anxiety
Lord Jesus,
In the middle of busy work and many concerns I want to fix my eyes on you. You are the Lord, the Lord who calls me to your kingdom, the Lord who calls me to find rest with you, the Lord who calls me to conversion, to new life, to new hope. I am grateful, O Lord, that you call me here. Help me to be renewed so that through me many can be healed and find new life.
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
Growing up, every Christmas Eve after Candlelight Service, my family would come home and do our Christmas Eve traditions. We got new Christmas pajamas, put out milk and cookies for Santa, and sometimes we would watch a movie. But every year, my parents sat us down and my Dad would read the story of Jesus’ birth. It was our time to take a moment and remember in the rush of the Christmas festivities what the story was about.
Now that I am older, and I’m sure you can relate, it seems like the days fly by. I find myself saying ‘I’ll make time for it’. If I haven’t been able to read my Bible, ‘I’ll make time for it’, if I haven’t prayed yet, ‘I’ll make time for it’. I hate to say it, but sometimes I put other things over my time with God. School gets in the way, or I’m rushing to get to work, or I have to go to the grocery store, and that moment of peace is missed. But it’s during the holidays, in the chaos of it all, when I find that peace again. Even when I’m busy helping prepare a meal, or getting the last Christmas gift, I feel the Holy Spirit around me, and I find myself going to God even more.
At times it’s hard to listen for God in the chaos of the holidays. I find myself asking him for things, or thanking him without waiting for a response. But in this scripture I find it again.
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”’
God has given me the best answer, his son Jesus, who was dead and buried and rose after three days. Remembering that the best gift I was ever given was Jesus Christ always makes Christmas more joyous! So remember this holiday season, in the rush of travel and excitement of presents, the greatest gift has already been given, and it is given all year round.
I like to listen to O Holy Night this time of year. The words are so powerful yet the song is so simple. It goes to show that you don’t need the fanciest things, you don’t even need a fancy song. Jesus is everything we can need for the Christmas season, and every season.
‘Fall on your knees. Oh hear the angel voices. O night divine, O night when Christ was born.’
Dear Lord,
Help us to simplify our activities and traditions so we can focus our celebration on Your birth. Thank You for being the Prince of Peace, and I ask you for that supernatural peace to reign in our hearts. Amen
I am a classic Christmas music girl. However, I do love the song “I Need a Silent Night” by Amy Grant. She sings, “December traffic, Christmas rush. It breaks me till I push and shove,” and “Look at us now rushing around trying to buy Christmas peace.” It’s so relatable.
The Christmas season has become such a hustle and bustle that sometimes we forget (cheesy as it may sound) the reason for the season. God, our Creator and Savior, came down in human form. Not just in human form, but as a baby. A pure baby.
Here is what Luke 2 says about the birth of Jesus:
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
I think we often picture the birth of Jesus like the song “Silent Night” — “Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright.” But that’s not really how it happened. It says, after Mary gave birth, she had a whole crew of shepherds come tramping in. Just like in Amy Grant’s song, it was one more thing Mary had to add to her plate during this season.
Right after birth, there is a period of time called the Golden Hour. It’s recommended that the first hour after birth be uninterrupted time between mother, father, and child. No unnecessary medical intervention. No visitors. Nothing — just quality time as a new family to get to know each other. Maybe we can take a lesson from that practice. In this season of hustle and bustle, let’s take a Golden Hour. An uninterrupted moment to be with the King — Immanuel, God with us — this season.
Merry Christmas, church family
Heavenly Father, as we gather to celebrate Christmas, we are filled with hope and joy. The birth of your Son brings hope to the world, and we rejoice in the promise of salvation. May this Christmas dinner be a time of celebration and reflection on the hope we have in Christ. Let the joy of this season fill our hearts and homes, and may we share this hope and joy with others.
Luke’s telling of the birth of Jesus grounds the greatest miracle in history in the realities of everyday life. A government census, a long journey, a crowded town—these details remind us that God enters the world not apart from human systems and struggles, but right in the middle of them.
The holiday season is always such a stressful time for me. I create a lot of that stress on my own, but still, it can be stressful. I am busy at work, our son is busy at school and in sports, my husband is busy with work always but does an amazing job of stepping up to help me in whatever I need. I just have to ask and that’s where I sometimes fall short. However, this first passage, about the birth of Jesus reminds me to stop and take in the season instead of just rushing through it. The world will always remain crazy, we will always have struggles, busy seasons come and go, but our faith in Jesus remains constant.
Jesus is born in humility. There is no guest room, no celebration fit for a king—only a manger. Yet this is precisely how God chooses to come near. The Savior arrives not in power and prestige, but in vulnerability, identifying fully with humanity from His very first moments.
I love this section of the passage. It tells me not everything has to be perfect, which is something I struggle with. Jesus was born in a manger, in a stable, with no room at the Inn. I cannot even comprehend delivering my child outside in a stable with animals nearby. My son’s birth was not perfect, but he was and still is in my eyes. We celebrate the Christmas season with Jesus being the reason for the season. We do not have to spend all the money on gifts for everyone on our list, not everything has to be decorated to a “T”, we do not have to go to all the things that leave us run ragged and irritable at the end of the day. Keeping the season simple, yet meaningful is important to our family.
The angelic announcement is given not to rulers or religious leaders, but to shepherds—ordinary workers, awake in the fields. To them comes the message we still cling to today: “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” The gospel is, and always has been, good news for everyone.
During this busy season if we all could stop, look up and around, and maybe listen more than speak, we may feel a little lighter, listen a little stronger, and be able to share the news of Jesus’s birth with others we encounter. It is important for us to remember that this good news isn’t to be kept, it’s to be spread around for anyone and all! Many of the children at church will put on a special Christmas Nativity play coming up that will depict Jesus’s birth. I love that the children will be able to share the good news of Jesus’s birth to the community. I cannot wait to see them all perform; it will be a treat for everyone!
The shepherds respond with faith and obedience. They go to Bethlehem, they see for themselves, and they leave changed—glorifying God and sharing what they have witnessed. Mary, meanwhile, receives it all quietly, treasuring and pondering these things in her heart. Together, these responses show us what faithful discipleship can look like: active witness and deep reflection.
As we continue through this Advent season, awaiting the birth of Jesus, it is my prayer people can slow down, appreciate family and traditions, and remember the reason for the season. Our family keeps traditions simple and meaningful. We do not keep a mile long list of things we “have to do” in December. Our son is seven and Christmas is a magical time for him. While he loves to talk about Santa and all that comes with that, he knows we are counting the days to Jesus’s birth, with a visit from Santa on the side. We enjoy going as a family to look at Christmas lights, attending the town’s Christmas tree lighting, dropping off Santa’s letter at the Santa mailbox, attending the church Advent services, putting cookies out for Santa and carrots for the reindeer and cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning. We will have the time this year to attend Christmas Eve service, and I cannot wait for him to experience one of my favorite traditions. I remember several years of Christmas Eve services wondering if I would ever have a child to share it with. God’s timing is always the best time. My favorite part of Christmas always is seeing everything through our son’s eyes. I can only imagine the joy Mary felt on that special night!
As a church, Luke 2:1–20 invites us to remember where God’s glory is often found—in humble places, among ordinary people, and in quiet faithfulness. May we, like the shepherds, go and tell the good news, and like Mary, make room in our hearts to treasure what God is doing among us.
Dear God,
Thank you for all the fun and excitement of Christmas.
Thank you for the amazing nativity story,
that tells us about the birth of Jesus.
Thank you for sending us your Son,
a gift from you into this world.
As we look at the lights on the tree,
remind us of the light Jesus brought to this Earth.
When we sing songs and carols,
remind us of the hope Jesus showed everyone.
And as we open the gifts and presents,
remind us that Jesus was the best gift ever.
Help us to share special times with family and friends this Christmas,
And to share the light, hope and gift of Jesus to the world.
This is one of my favorite passages of scripture because it highlights a sentiment repeated throughout the life of Christ. He was born to parents of humble means—though Joseph was of the lineage of David—and the first to celebrate His birth were some of society’s outcasts: the dirty, smelly shepherds.
One remarkable detail is that Mary and Joseph traveled roughly 80 miles while Mary was in the late stages of pregnancy, with the final stretch uphill into Bethlehem—the very city foretold by the prophet in Micah 5:2: “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” They likely made this journey on foot, even though images often show Mary riding a donkey. We have no indication that Joseph had the resources to own one. We also do not know whether anyone besides Joseph was present to assist with the birth in the stable.
The second part of this scripture is just as fascinating. The angels appeared to shepherds who were tending their flocks at night. Why would God choose these men—people considered unclean, undesirable, and socially insignificant—to be the first to hear the news of the newborn Savior? Perhaps it was because their beliefs were simple and childlike, not weighed down by the intellectual complications of scholars. If the angels had appeared to scholars, would the message have been believed?
What we do know is that the shepherds acted immediately. They said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” And after seeing the child, they spread the news without hesitation. Yet although those who heard them were amazed, there is no indication that crowds flocked to the stable to see the newborn Christ. Perhaps because shepherds were not considered trustworthy, their testimony was easily dismissed. Even so, these were the first people to receive the announcement of His birth.
I often wonder where the angels would go today to announce the birth of Christ. Would it be to a homeless encampment? A refugee shelter? A slum? The beginning of Jesus’s story mirrors the entirety of His life: He came for the downtrodden, the outcasts, and the overlooked—and He came for everyone else as well. Truly, the last shall be first, and the first shall be last.
[Editor's Note: Drew is a member of the church's Youth Group. I am delighted to have Drew participate in the church-wide project!]
Mathew 2 starts off when Jesus was first born. He was born in Bethlehem and during this time, Bethlehem was ruled by King Herod. The day Jesus was born, a star so bright was lite up and lead wise men down to Bethlehem. These wise men visited and upon their visit asked, “Where is the newborn king?”.
This ask made all of Jerusalem and King Herod disturbed, so disturbed that King Herod called all leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked them, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?”. The priests and teachers all confirmed that the Messiah was supposed to be born in Bethlehem. After King Herod got his confirmation, he called the wise men and ordered them to seek for Jesus, and once they find baby Jesus they are to report back to him so he can go and worship Jesus himself.
The wise men set off, following the bright star, to go find him. Upon finding Jesus, they bowed and worshiped him, leaving him gifts, gold, and praise. The next morning the wise men left, but not to return to King Herod, but to return to their own country, as God visited them in their dream the night before and warned them never to return to King Herod.
Reading this scripture, I’m reminded that God always has a plan for us. We have a path that we think we are supposed to follow, but God is the only one that truly knows. The wise men were planning on going back to King Herod, but God warned them not to and they listened. God is always there, listening, protecting, and loving all of us. Even when we don’t know it.
Lord, help us to be wise like the Magi, seeking you with a sincere heart and following the light of your star to find you, even when paths are unclear.
Help us to come to you not with empty hands, but with the gold of charity, the incense of prayer, and the myrrh of self-sacrifice, offering you our best.
As the Wise Men found Jesus and returned home by another way, grant us the grace to find you in repentance and to avoid losing you again, staying true to our faith.
God, help us to grow in awe that you became one of us. May we rejoice in your coming and share the joy of your love with everyone we meet.
[Editors Note: This devotion was originally posted on Saturday, December 16, 2023. Some things just need to be shared again.]
And again, Isaiah says,
“The Root of Jesse will spring up,
one who will arise to rule over the nations;
in him the Gentiles will hope.”[a]
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:12-13
My childhood was in the shadow of World War II and the Korean War, and in the run-up to the War in Vietnam. From my earliest days I took for granted the reality and impact of warfare. One Christmas in the midst of all that I heard a fascinating war story that has intrigued all my life. It happened in Europe at Christmas in 1914. It was the first year of what was then known as The Great War or The War to End All Wars. (!) All along the Western Front an unplanned, unauthorized truce took place. From across no man’s land, British soldiers heard German soldiers singing “Stille Nacht” and saw them decorating scrawny trees and bushes with candles. They responded back with their version – “Silent Night.” Hesitatingly, soldiers from both sides crept out of trenches, weaponless, to greet their enemies, and to wish them a Merry Christmas. Gifts were exchanged, drinks were shared, pictures were taken, and games were played. Up to 100,000 troops experienced this up and down the front. If only for a few hours, enemies united to celebrate the birth of Jesus of Nazareth.
In his letter to followers of Jesus in Rome, Paul quoted Isaiah’s prophecy, saying, “The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; in him the Gentiles will hope.” When we hear the term “Gentile” now, we tend to think this means simply those who were not from a Jewish background, as was Paul. “Gentile” had a much heavier and negative meaning to Jewish people then. A Gentile was someone who was not a part of God’s favored people, not pleasing to God, and even unworthy of any kind of interaction with those who followed the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and Moses. In short, a Gentile was an enemy, by presumption of accepted Jewish practice. This ramps of the impact of what Paul said. The birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus binds all in his Lordship and his Kingdom, even and especially those we see as enemies.
Whom do you and I assume is outside the benefits and importance of the birth of a Savior? Before what individual, group, political persuasion, ethnicity, lifestyle, etc. are we staying in our trench, braced for attack, or planning for attack? Where do we need to lay down our “arms”, sing “Silent Night” as an invitation, and cross no man’s land to offer “Merry Christmas” as an invitation to celebrate together?
Where do you and I need a Christmas Truce?
Jesus, you who came into the world as an enemy of none, show me where we need to take the first step toward a “Christmas Truce”, so that others may see you in me. Amen.
As I write this, last night was the final rehearsal for this year’s Christmas Cantata, a joyous annual remembrance and service. The choir takes a wondrous journey each September to December. We are reunited with friends and former choir members who join us just for this celebration. There is a bit of rowdiness and a lot of laughter. Always, there is prayer for those in need and a prayer that the Cantata may be a blessing to those who hear it.
Cantata practice starts with energy and attention devoted to notes, words, and dynamics… the technicalities. We learn the basics of the songs that Jordan has chosen. (As a side note, discovering those songs is like getting an early Christmas present!) We work on individual parts, drill sections, and it sounds rough for far longer than we’d like, but it gradually comes together, and we are making music. It sounds good!
But then, prayer is answered. Jordan might point out especially meaningful words; sometimes we intuitively touch on those phrases as the music speaks to us. It doesn’t happen all at once, and we must still pay attention to demanding runs, but gradually, we – the choir – step back, make space, and through the music invite the Holy Spirit to enter and tell of Jesus’ birth and God’s love.
Some members of the choir have beautiful voices; others of us are average (me, for example!), but we all rejoice in this journey, blending those voices to make a joyful noise and sing praises to our Lord! We also have faith that the gift we offer will be a blessing and received in the spirit in which it’s offered.
The journey of the Magi to Bethlehem was more challenging. It was neither comfortable (politically) nor predictable. Matthew 2:1-12 relates their story:
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
Matthew 2:1-12 KJV
Expecting the star in the East to lead them to the King of the Jews, the wise men encountered mystery as they were interrogated in Jerusalem and intrigue as they were warned in a dream not to return to Herod. They showed persistence in their trust of the import of the star. And they also demonstrated steadfastness in their belief that, where the star came to rest, they would find a King. Discovering that the star had led them to a simple stable where the infant was attended only by Mary, Joseph, and shepherds, they nonetheless fell down and worshipped him. They had faith in the star and their quest.
We are all on journeys, through time, space, mental explorations, or a journey in faith… maybe all at the same time. Whatever our personal journey, there is a lesson for us in the story of the Wise Men. Their tenacity and trust in their guide – the Star – helped them recognize, accept, and fall down to worship the Infant Messiah despite the mundane surroundings. Had their faith been less, the story might have turned out differently. It is easy to be pulled off course when the path becomes unpredictable or hard; however, if we trust in God’s Word and listen for the presence of the Holy Spirit guiding us, the journey becomes easier and the way becomes clear.
Lord, help us follow the light you shine on us wherever it may lead,
knowing that regardless of the path it takes,
the journey brings us closer to you.
Open our hearts to trust and rejoice
in the changes your plan for us will bring
and to obey you without hesitation.
We joyfully offer you our humble gifts
for your use and to magnify your glory.
We ask that you make our gifts a blessing to others
and pray that they see your love shining through us.
Ellen is very involved in our Special Needs Ministry at the church.]
Whoever refreshes others, will be refreshed. Proverbs 11:25
Serving the Community Thanksgiving Dinner “to almost 500 people” was an incredible blessing. There was a combination of lonely, rich, poor, homeless, sad, happy, and hungry people. Some sat quietly alone, possibly reflecting on happier past Thanksgiving dinners. Others sat in groups of family or friends, some happily chatting, and others quietly reflecting.
There was time before serving to go around the room and visit with the guests. A woman, sitting alone, spoke about her husband. He suffered a heart attack recently and was transferred to St. Louis. Her Thanksgiving dinner would be that night with us. I listened (difficult for me to do, but I’m working on it) and we prayed for his healing.
A lady shared stories about her family and her brother’s recent death. She told me how much the chance to share her story meant to her, (a gift so easy to give.) I asked a man sitting alone if this would be his Thanksgiving Dinner He answered softly: “Yes, I live alone. I have a chicken breast, carrots, and few other things to cook for Thanksgiving but nothing like this! Then he smiled, pointing to the plateful of turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, roll and piece of pie sitting before him.
We talked about the churches they did and did not attend. One tried to put into words what her tiny country church meant to her. Another said she did not go to church, but “I have Jesus” and she pulled out a small silver cross from under her jacket. I answered: “Yes! You have Jesus in your heart!” She laughed and nodded in agreement. Another shared her dislike for contemporary service. “It’s like going to a concert with loud music and a huge screen!” A reminder, of though we all love the same Lord, we like to worship differently. It made me wonder how many in the community do not realize FUMC has a beautiful traditional service.
A thin man dressed in layers of clothes came in late and stood by the front door. I welcomed him and invited him to come in and sit down. He said he could not stay and eat inside; his dog was waiting outside the door for him. I got him a plate, drink, and pie (wish I had gotten his dog a plate of scraps too!)
My only regret was my inability to eat with some of those eating alone. To give them a chance to talk and feel like a part of something bigger. But maybe the blessing of eating there with so many met some of those needs. I heard the gentleman who lived alone say he would be back next Tuesday for the next community dinner!
God’s Blessings
Prayer For Those Who Are Lonely
Dear Heavenly Father, I come to You today to lift up those that are lonely and who feel deserted or left alone by those they love, and pray that in Your grace and mercy You would draw near to all who are broken-hearted or crushed in spirit, and deliver them from the difficulties and troubles that they are facing today.
Draw very close to them Lord. Enfold them in Your loving arms, quiet their hearts and bring into their lives that perfect peace and gracious comfort that only comes from You, for You have promised to place those that are lonely in families and You have promised the widow that, “your Maker is your husband.”
Lord, for all whose hearts are aching and alone, I pray that You would draw close to them and make Yourself known in a very special way. In Jesus' name I pray,
In Matthew 2:2 we learn about “Wise men from the East” who came to Jerusalem saying “Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and are come to worship him.”
Were these Magi the descendants of those Babylonians who, over five centuries prior, had been led by Daniel after the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC and his deliverance from the Lions Den?
In Ezra 7:9 it states that the trip from Babylon to Jerusalem was a four month journey, approximately 1,700 miles along the trade routes of the time, and long before Planes, Trains, or Automobiles, through desert lands that were full of bandits, while carrying treasures of Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh.
What would compel a group of Wise Men to undertake such a journey? To see a baby? They went first to Jerusalem; where else but the nation's capitol would you start your search for the child of a King? They followed the signs, but apparently from King Herod’s reaction to this news, it wasn’t one of his children.
Star in the East by Joseph Alexander Paradis
“We have seen his star” there are many theories about what the star was. Was it an exploding star? Nova, or a Super Nova would have definitely been impressive, but it’s only been 2,000 years and there would still be a Nebula visible in the night sky that we could point to, so was it a Meteor or a Comet? A meteor is an instantaneously brief flash of light streaking across the night sky, and a comet might only last a few weeks in the night sky as it passes by the sun, but it would be a stretch to say they followed either of those across the desert for months, leading them to a manger in Bethlehem. Or was it merely a conjunction of two “wandering stars” known as Jupiter “the King of Gods”, and Saturn “The star of Justice and royalty” in the constellation of Pisces which represented “the West, or the Land of the Jews” three times (retrograde motion- when Earth passes the other planets in its orbit they sometimes appear to reverse their course against the background of stars) in the year 7 BC during the months of May, October, and December?. Or could it have been a cluster of bright shining Angels of Light, or even the Shakina Glory that led the Israelites out of Egypt back in Exodus?
Ya know, maybe, just maybe, the Star of Bethlehem isn’t the point of the story. Perhaps, the point is that they came to worship Him. We each have our own personal journey, and reasons for coming to worship the Christ Child. The Greatest Story Ever Told impacts each of us where we are, and like the Magi, or the Little Drummer Boy, we each have unique gifts and talents.
Joseph had a dream and was faithful in his acts of obedience, and the World was blessed with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
So ask yourself, “What gift shall I bring?”
Epiphany Solemn Blessing
God has called you out of darkness,
into his wonderful light.
May you experience his kindness and blessings,
and be strong in faith, in hope, and in love.
Because you are followers of Christ,
who appeared on this day as a light shining in darkness,
may he make you a light to all your sisters and brothers.
