I Dropped Baby Jesus

I Dropped Baby
Jesus
An Advent Devotional
Peg Forrest
FOCUS MINISTRIES
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I Dropped Baby Jesus
© 2015 by Peg Forrest
FOCUS Ministries 300-A Squaw Valley Place Pagosa Springs, CO 81147
All rights reserved.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION 4
Sunday, Nov 29 - What If? 5
Monday, Nov 30 - My One & Only 6
Tuesday, Dec 1 - Repent for the Kingdom is at Hand 7
Wednesday, Dec 2 - Prepare the Way of the Lord 8
Thursday, Dec 3 - Now & Not Yet 10
Friday, Dec 4 - In the Wait 11
Saturday, Dec 5 - Hope 12
Sunday, Dec 6 - Peace on Earth 13
Monday, Dec 7 - Don’t Think I Have Come to Bring Peace 14
Tuesday, Dec 8 - O Come Let Us Adore Him 15
Wednesday, Dec 9 - Guide, Guard, Govern 16
Thursday, Dec 10 - What DID Mary Know? 17
Friday, Dec 11 - What Do I Know? 19
Saturday, Dec 12 - Advent is Near! 21
Sunday, Dec 13 - Christmas JOY 22
Monday, Dec 14 - Pregnant With the Name 23
Tuesday, Dec 15 - My Magnificat 24
Wednesday, Dec 16 - I’ll Be Home for Christmas 25
Thursday, Dec 17 - Do Not Fear 26
Friday, Dec 18 - Every Knee Shall Bow 27
Saturday, Dec 19 - Who Am I? 28
Sunday, Dec 20 - Who Am I (2)? 30
Monday, Dec 21 - Who Am I (3)? 31
Tuesday, Dec 22 - Who Am I (4)? 33
Wednesday, Dec 23 - Jesus Didn’t Follow the Rules 35
Thursday, Christmas Eve - It’s Complicated! 37
Thursday, Christmas Day - He Came for Me! 39
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INTRODUCTION
A couple of years ago, I spoke at a Christmas luncheon in Arizona. The theme of the event was:
The Greatest Gift. The message was well-planned. It involved an object lesson, in which I
opened a wrapped present with “baby Jesus” inside. I envisioned my microphone would be a
lapel, or an over the ear mic. I assumed I’d have a podium for my Bible, and since I don’t use
notes, my hands would be free. At just the right time, I’d open the gift, my introduction would be
complete, and I’d have them all in the palm of my hands. However, the stage set up wasn’t so
simple. The mic was a hand-held, and there was no podium. Trying to balance everything was
difficult at best. The result was catastrophic. I.DrOpPeD.Baby.JeSuS! Dropped Him! It went from
bad to worse. I felt that I had completely bungled the message. It was just one little incident from
which I struggled to recover. The Lord used it, however, and it became the theme of another
Christmas luncheon in another town for another group of women.
It’s easy to do, you know. It’s easy to drop baby Jesus. Right in the middle of all our
preparations for one of the holiest seasons, it is not
uncommon for us to let Him fall. I do it. Sometimes, I get so
wrapped up in wrapping up the trimmings, and the
packages, and the cooking, that Jesus simply gets
forgotten…dropped (period).
That’s the purpose in this short little devotional. The last
Sunday in November is generally the start of Advent.
Celebrating Advent is optional. It’s simply a tradition that
developed over the course of the church’s history as a
season to prepare for the coming (which is what the Latin
word, adventus means: the coming). I’m opting to
celebrate this Advent season, not with a calendar-watching
activity, but with a soul-searching, hopeful-expectation of
“hanging onto Jesus” until the day-of-his-birth-celebration.
This devotional is my attempt at not dropping him this year.
If you’ve downloaded this for that purpose - thanks for
joining me!
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Sunday, Nov 29 - What If?
John 15:22 begins with these words by Jesus, “If I had not come…” Have you ever thought
about that? Christmas is around the corner. The evidence of it has been in stores since before
Halloween! Each year, we celebrate a holiday that is totally centered on the coming of the Christ
child. But, what if He had not come? What would be different if, in fact, there was no
Christmas? Let me start a list…maybe you can complete it – this certainly isn’t exhaustive:
1 There would be no New Testament, the Bible would end with Malachi. Listen to how that
book closes…”I will come and strike the land with a curse.” Everything would end with a
curse!
2 As a result of #1 on the list, there would be no hope. In fact, where Malachi ends, God’s
voice quits. Between that verse and the first verse of Matthew, God went silent.
3 So…God would be totally and completely finished speaking to us…we would never have
the opportunity to hear His voice, in this day and age.
4 There would be no hope of a glorious resurrection.
5 No victory over death and the grave.
6 No victory over sin…
7 We’d still be butchering animals on an altar of sacrifice. Think how many animals would
have to die…we certainly are a sinful lot! Our hands would constantly be covered in
blood!
8 But then, it wouldn’t matter for us, because there would be no inclusion of Gentiles, so
we would remain alienated, separated, doomed to living in darkness.
9 We would have no opportunity for a new identity.
10 No deliverance.
11 No heavenly home to look forward to one day.
12 There would be no “Joy to the World.”
13 No Christmas lights…
14 No Christmas music.
15 No gifts.
16 Oh…and, no churches. We wouldn’t need places of worship, for there would be no one
for us to worship.
17 So, there would be no need for worship music.
18 No need for pastors and youth pastors.
19 No need for Bible teachers.
20 No need for going on with life...because “I couldn’t” keep going on without “Christ in me
the hope of glory” who helps me do “all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
21 No need for ___________________________________?
What if Jesus had not come? What then?
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Monday, Nov 30 - My One & Only
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of
the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14
Thanksgiving? Over! Christmas? Just days away! As I pick up my Bible to read about the first
coming, I’m struck by these words that describe Jesus in the passage above: The One and
Only! Think about HIM:
My One and Only...who created the world in which I live.
My One and Only...who gives life and breath.
My One and Only...who is the perfect shepherd, &
My One and Only...who is the perfect Lamb of God.
My One and Only...who sacrificed for my salvation.
My One and Only...who redeemed my soul.
My One and Only...who offered me complete forgiveness.
My One and Only...who chose me to be adopted by grace into a new family.
My One and Only...who loves me endlessly.
My One and Only...who prepares eternity for me.
My One and Only...who set me free.
My One and Only...who declares me “not guilty,” accepts me unconditionally, and whispers you
are not condemned (“Go! Sin no more!”).
My One and Only...who provides all that I need.
My One and Only...who knows my end from my beginning.
My One and Only...who has a good work ordained for me –
a purpose and value to my
existence.
My One and Only...who is full of grace.
My One and Only...who speaks truth, gently but firmly.
My One and Only...who sets my feet upon a righteous path.
My One and Only...who offers me an abundant life.
My One and Only...who speaks words of intimacy to me.
My One and Only...who assures me of His presence.
My One and Only...who blesses me beyond measure.
My One and Only...who calls me “friend.”
My One and Only...who heals my broken heart.
My One and Only...who sustains me in his massive, supportive hand.
My One and Only...who knows just what I need, when I need it, and doesn’t always answer yes
to my heart’s desires (because my best is always what's put first).
My One and Only...who is at work completing me – thank you, God!
What a great way to prepare this Advent as we contemplate Jesus: Our One and Only! Our
GREATEST GIFT!
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Tuesday, Dec 1 - Repent for the Kingdom is at Hand
In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, “Repent, for the
kingdom of heaven is at hand.” For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he
said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths
straight.” (Matthew 3:1-3)
Prepare...that was John’s calling.
The way of Jesus...that was John’s mission.
Repent...that was John’s message.
Nothing could be more “advent” than John the Baptist – he
was the pre-advent of the advent of the incarnate Christ. I’ve
no problem with his calling, or his mission. His message,
however, is another story. Who wants to hear the word,
“repent?” Even so, many seemed to be attracted to John’s
message (or, maybe they were attracted to the snacks he
provided….mmmmmm – locusts!!!!); people came out in
droves to be baptized by him. On the other hand, eventually,
the Word he proclaimed in connection with the coming of the
Messiah, as a way of preparation, also got him killed (that’s
another story for another day). Regardless, “repent” was his
message. About face! Change your mind; change your heart;
change your life!
I found myself wondering. What if JB dropped into the world
of Christmas today? What would his message be? How
would he help you and I prepare for the celebration of Jesus'
coming, and the, possible imminent advent of his return? Inside me, the still small voice of the
Spirit of God, whispered, “Repent...” (I might be wrong, but I think I heard the word, “duh,” after
that. If so, it was very still and very small.)
I was actually doing all this wondering as I was filling little clear plastic ornaments for my grandchildren.
I created fake snow with white rice, and half-filled each of the ornaments with it. Then,
I started dropping in these tiny little objects from the craft store. The goal is for the kiddos to find
the objects hidden in the rice. It’s rather like Where’s Waldo © in a Christmas ornament. They
can make it a game if they want and see who can find all the fun objects fastest. Or, they can
just look for them. One of the objects is a cross. The thought occurred to me as I dropped the
cross in the first ornament, “Isn’t that the problem with the glitz, the decorations, the shopping,
the push, the activities, the lights, the hustle, the bustle, the search for the perfect present? The
cross gets lost in the mayhem. Isn’t Christmas more about the cross, rather than the
manger? Isn’t Christmas more about salvation for the lost, than the perfect shirt or piece of
jewelry, or necktie to give to dad?” Isn’t Christmas more about redemption? Isn’t Christmas
more about ---- oh, yes, "forgiveness?” Repent!
As we prepare for Christmas, let’s start with our own hearts. Let’s evaluate John’s message:
what is cluttering our hearts and keeping the cross in the shadows? Repent! Make room for the
Savior by cleaning out what doesn’t belong in our hearts…and, rejoice when you find His
forgiveness!
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Wednesday, Dec 2 - Prepare the Way of the Lord
There are a lot of weddings coming up over the holiday
season. I have the invitations and am working on the
gifts. I’m so glad I’m not the one having to prepare for
a wedding amidst preparing Christmas planning. Can
you imagine? Honestly, I’m feeling a bit anxious on
behalf of these brides, grooms, and their
families. Preparing for a wedding is a very big
DEAL. It’s also very expensive. Do you know the
average cost of a wedding? Let me spare you the
research. Answer: it depends on where you get
married. The average number of dollars spent in the
U.S. overall as of last May was (drum roll) $27,021.00.
I did not make that up. However, if you live in New York
City, the average cost of a wedding is (GONG).....
(GONG)...(GONG)...$65,824! I did not make that up,
either. My girls were lucky to get a wedding for $3000.
They were robbed! What does this have to do with a
Christmas reflection?
Obviously, it’s the word prepare. We prepare months
for a wedding, some girls take years. We spend more
money on the day, than we do in preparation of the life
to come. I find that to be very sad; but what about
preparing for Christmas? I’m not thinking of the plans. I’m not thinking of the decorations, or who
you are having over for dinner, or how many presents you have to buy, or how big the tree is, or
whether or not God will co-operate with the weather man and bring you snow. I’m asking this
question, “What are you doing to prepare your heart for Christmas?” What does that mean,
really…practically?
PREPARE, that was John the Baptist’s mission. Remember the verse from yesterday? He gave
us one way (repent), which we already discussed. Here was our focal verse:
In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, “Repent, for the
kingdom of heaven is at hand.” For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he
said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths
straight.”
Here are a few more ways to prepare:
1) Make room for Jesus. Remember the Christmas story? There was no room for Jesus in
the inn. Have you made room for Him in your daily life? Room for Him in your home? Room
for Him in your extra time? Room for Him in your Christmas celebration?
2) Treasure & ponder the Jesus-moments in your life. Remember Mary? All of a sudden,
following the birth of her first-born-son, all these unexplainable things began to unfold. These
were Jesus-moments and Mary treasured them and pondered... Take time during the holiday
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season to reflect on your own Jesus-moments -- times when the unexplainable can only be
explained by breathing two words, “but God.”
3) Worship & glorify Him. I’m not anti-Christmas. I’m all about gifts, and Christmas lights,
and a sweet-smelling pine tree, and food (especially fudge), but I’m even more about the
worship of the One worthy of it all.
This week’s lesson of advent: prepare! Spend time planning for a Christmas that directs you to
Jesus, keep Him front and center of this holy-day.
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Thursday, Dec 3 - Now & Not Yet
Advent gently reminds us of the “now” and “not yet” that comes with being people of faith.
Advent reminds us of the importance of waiting. Advent whispers our need for a Savior. Advent
teaches us God’s timing is always better than ours!
-Margaret Feinberg-
This morning’s focus is short…but, it’s important. This is about zeroing in on the “waiting room”
period that comes with Advent. There are several things I’m praying about, waiting on, and
begging God to let me see their advent. Much of my waiting involves people I love who are in
need of my Savior. As I reflect today on the Advent of Jesus’ birth, I pray for the timing of His
"birth" in each of those hearts who don’t KNOW Him. With God, it is always about the
occurrences we’re seeking, coming in the fullness of time. So, while I’m standing in the now, I’m
looking for the time when the “not yet” is at an end, and God the Father looks at God the Son
and says, “OK, now - go! Be born-anew in hearts that have seen the fulness-of-time!”
May these current waitings remind us to pray and to do what we can to “prepare the way” of the
Savior in the hearts of those we love who don’t yet know him.
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Friday, Dec 4 - In the Wait
Once again, I’ve been thinking about the waiting that comes with Advent. Waiting is imperative
with the coming. Waiting says there is something better ahead...and, so, with the waiting there
has to be hope. The two join hands and walk together towards the coming.
Hope is that little flutter that keeps the waiting alive, and nudges my ability to press on. There
are days it is hard to stay steadfast were it not for hope (this can be especially true over the
holidays). We need to be reminded of hope: hope that with the coming there will, indeed, be
change. So many feel stuck and hopeless during the holidays. Sometimes, it's almost
impossible to sense that little flutter and keep going.
That's why we need fore-runners. That's why we need prophets. That's why the Israelites, after
400 years of heaven's silence, had to have a John-the-Baptist. Hope was at a premium. Few
had any hope-remnants left considering the conditions under which they were living - socially,
politically, economically, environmentally, emotionally (all were a struggle), but particularly,
spiritually. So, God gave a fore-running miracle in the birth of a new-kind-of-prophet. John's job?
Prepare the way for the coming. Turn hearts. Ready the souls. Bring hope.
If I am a follower of Jesus, John's job is mine, too. This Christmas season, I'm to find ways to do
the same. Nothing declares the specialness of the season like a hope-bringer. This Advent, it's
my desire to renew hope by being someone's fore-running miracle. I was born again for just
such a Joy.
You?
What was can we pro-actively bring hope to
someone who holds only small remnants?
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Saturday, Dec 5 - Hope
I recently received an e-letter from a friend of mine.
This friend is a "global worker" (we used to use the
"m" word to describe this gal, but we can't
anymore). She works in an undisclosed 10-40-
window-country. That means I can't tell you where
she is serving. However, her neighborhood has
become a war zone in recent weeks: bombs, rifles,
grenades (you get the picture). Her e-letter can't be
reprinted, but I can tell you some of the contents.
The day before she wrote this missive, five
brothers-of-the-faith had been martyred for their
beliefs. One dad, along, with his two teenage sons,
she and her husband knew very well. Their little
Christian community was rocked and deeply
grieving, but, she steadfastly declared, "Not without hope!" They all know that these modernday-martyrs
were not swallowed up in death, but to LIFE. It's why Jesus was born, so He could
die, to bring new hope of everlasting LIFE. It doesn't mean life will be easy or happy. It does
mean we all have a better something to look forward to in the midst of such tragedy. Hope is not
deferred even in this tragedy, making the heart sick (Proverbs 13:12)
On a recent trip to FOCUS on the Family with my daughter-in-love, the bookstore was having a
25%-off-the-entire-store sale. Since I am focusing on Advent, I bought a beautifully carved
Advent-wreath. This past week I lit the first candle, which represents HOPE. I understand the
need for HOPE so much more after pondering and praying over my friend's note. As I prayed, I
found myself in the middle of Jeremiah's Lamentations. Everything in his life had been stripped
away. Yet, in the middle of the loss, Jeremiah KNEW and DID NOT FORGET hope. That's
because he knew the only source of hope. Here are his words:
Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this:
The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
His mercies never cease.
Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each and every morning.
I say to myself, "The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in Him!"
The Lord is good to those who depend on Him, to those who search for Him.
So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord.
And it is good for people to submit at an early age to His yoke, to sit in silence beneath His commands.
Let them lie face down in the dust, for there may hope be found...no one is ever totally abandoned by the
Lord.
Though He brings grief, He also shows compassion, because of the greatness of His unfailing love. Who
can command things to happen without the Lord's permission? Does not the Most High send both
calamity and good?
Instead...let us turn back to the Lord, and lift our hearts and hands to God in heaven...
(excerpts from Lamentations 3:21-41)
Again, may we be reminders of the HOPE that is found forever in the faithfulness and mercies
of our God. He will, as Jeremiah goes on to remind us, be true to His promises regarding His
chosen, His beloved Children; and, He will come again! Advent is near!
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Sunday, Dec 6 - Peace on Earth
This the second Sunday of Advent, and, I get to (woohoo!) light the second candle on my new
advent wreath, which represents peace.
Here's what the angels came declaring to the shepherds that star-filled night of Christ's birth:
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased (Luke
2:14)."
On that one night, Peace was born. It didn't take long for the world to try to wipe Him out. We
say we long for "peace on earth." We hear those words often in our war-filled world. Yet, it
makes me wonder if we really want it? Why do we, the human race, continue to stir up the
proverbial hornets nest? Are we afraid of Peace? Perhaps...perhaps, so! Here's what seemed to
pop into my mind as I began to ponder peace: To want peace contradicts our desire for
control! One of our greatest fears is being out of control. Yet, peace is only found in surrender -
surrender to the Prince of Peace, Jesus.
Surrender is God's invitation to contentment and everlasting peace.
Truly, there will be no "peace on earth" until the Prince of Peace returns at His second Advent,
and every knee bows and every tongue proclaims Him Lord! Advent is near!
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Monday, Dec 7 - Don’t Think I Have Come to Bring Peace
After yesterday's Advent thought, I remembered a poem I'd written in a FOCUS Ministries
Christmas letter year's ago. I had to go digging to find it. I'm no poet (not even close). Yet, it
speaks to the concept of peace, and the notion that while angels proclaimed peace on earth,
even Jesus, during His ministry said, "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth.
I have not come to bring peace, but a sword... (Matthew 10:34)." Yes, there will be divisions and
strife in relationships that are close to us, as well as between nations, but, what Jesus did come
to bring was individual peace for those who sought Him. A common thread runs through Jesus'
miracles; a thread similar to this one, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace (Luke 7:50)!" or
this prayer from the Apostle Paul (Romans 15:13): May the God of Hope fill you with all joy and
peace in believing (emphasis mine). In other words: The peace of Jesus is the peace that
ceases the wars that rage inside of me! So, here's that poem to ponder today:
It wasn't a what, but rather a WHO,
Had arrived on earth that night.
A soft sweet babe in a manger,
Not a king with powerful might.
A simple child of parent's poor,
No national wars would He cease.
But there, wrapped in swaddling cloth,
Lay the Sovereign Prince of Peace.
He'd come to seek and save the lost,
To set the captives free.
To proclaim good news to every man,
And cease the war in me!
"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem,"
The Scriptures make it clear.
Let's not make the same mistake,
This time seek His Presence here.
No peace will be found 'til Christ returns,
And on the Mount of Olives stands.
Then Peace will reign o'er all the earth,
As this Prince, His peace commands.
Peg Forrest (c) 2003
"Peace on earth; goodwill toward men,"
The angels declared that night.
But where was the peace they promised?
It seemed nowhere in sight.
No peace to be found in Ramah.
Rachel weeping for her child.
For they all sought an absence of strife.
A political climate so mild.
They did not understand the truth,
Their eyes, in fact, were blind.
They weren't to look for conditions,
But a Peace of a different kind.
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Tuesday, Dec 8 - O Come Let Us Adore Him
Yesterday, as I was working in the kitchen and listening to a
little Christmas music playing in the background, I began
singing along to an old Christmas-favorite, "Oh, come let us
adore Him! Oh, come let us adore Him! Oh, come let us
adore Him! Christ...the Lord!"
Advent - a season to focus on adoration of our Savior and
Lord... So, I refreshed my memory on just what it means to
"adore" someone. I'll refresh your memory, too. It means "to
love intensely, to worship, speak words of admiration and
reverence; to regard with feelings of respect and reverence;
to consider as hallowed or exalted (I can't credit any one
resource as this is a combination of Hebrew, Greek, and the
WordBook Dictionary App)." It was the words I italicized
above that struck my heart - to speak, out loud, words of
adoration. The realization hit that I seldom do just that... I
have gotten in the habit of being thankful; but that's not
adoration. Adoration involves character - WHO YOU ARE.
Adoration means I tell you just what I love about you. It's not
what I love about what you do FOR ME, but who you are TO ME! That's a big difference. It
seems lately, that there's been this big push on gratitude (and rightly so, we do tend to be an
ungrateful people); but, so maybe with so much focus, perhaps we've forgotten adoration.
I read this statement a couple of years ago in a book on marriage, and it stuck: "We can't love
someone intimately, when we are always thinking about them, or talking about them,
negatively." ** Not only is this true in marriage, it's true in all relationships, especially our
relationship with Jesus. Remembering to speak words of adoration will always lead us to
deeper intimacy! And, I long for the delights that come with exploring the depths of my
relationship with my Savior!
So, as I sang out those words, "Oh, come let us adore Him," there was a quiet Spirit-whisper of
invitation - "Come..." I did. In the midst of a meal preparation, I stopped and sat at my table, and
began to work on an activity I learned years ago in Mom's In Touch: write a list about who God
is for every letter of the alphabet. And, I began to speak it aloud, looking heavenward. Gotta
admit, it felt awkward. That just speaks to how foreign adoration has become. Oh, that it may
not be just a random, Advent event. May this become the spirit of my soul, to long to come,
often, and adore Him...Christ the Lord!
This morning, take a few moments and just let him know what you love about him; and, then
maybe tell someone else…
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Wednesday, Dec 9 - Guide, Guard, Govern
Still reflecting on peace, I happened to read this prayer from an old book of prayers, Prayers
Ancient and Modern - Primary Source Edition (Mary Wilder Tileston). I am making this prayer
mine today as a part of my Advent reflection:
Grant unto us, Almighty God, Thy peace that passeth all understanding; that we, amid the
storms and troubles of this our life, may rest in Thee, knowing that all things are in Thee, under
Thy care, governed by Thy will, guarded by Thy love; so that with a quiet heart we may see the
storms of life, the cloud and the thick darkness; ever rejoicing to know that the darkness and the
light are both alike to Thee. Guide, guard, and govern us even to the end, that none of us may
fail to lay old upon the immortal life - Amen
-George Dawson-
Guide, guard, govern...I like that! It made me think of this verse, regarding Christ's Advent:
For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his
shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting
Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6
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Thursday, Dec 10 - What DID Mary Know?
The following link has been all over Facebook, so you may have clicked on it already, but if not,
take a listen to this remix of one of my favorite Christmas songs - Mary Did You Know
(Pentatonix).
The song alone is worth pondering today as we reflect on Advent. However, as I listened, the
question kept begging an answer in my mind - Exactly what did Mary know? Recently, Bay
and I watched the old movie, Yentl, with Barbara Streisand. If you've not seen it, the story
highlights a young Hebrew woman who longed to increase in knowledge, to have her questions
answered, but she lived in an era when "it was a man's job to do the thinking and the learning,
and a woman's job to marry, to cook, and to have babies." For a woman to read and study the
Torah was illegal. Yet, bless his heart, Yentl's father taught her to read, to study, to discuss, and,
even argue the Holy Writings...until he died, and Yentl was left with nothing. So, she cut her hair,
dressed like a young boy, and set out to a new community, where she might enroll & live among
the male population as a student, and satiate her greatest desire.
Mary lived in such a society, perhaps a bit worse than Yentl's.
Life for women in Mary's world was not easy, nor free. Women
were no more than property owned by a man. As in Yentl's
world, what Mary DID KNOW was that she wasn't allowed to
think, to have a voice. What Mary DID KNOW would have been
caught, as others talked, but she was NEVER taught. What
Mary DID KNOW was that there would, one day, come a
Messiah, and all young girls, who lived to marry and have
babies, hoped that they might be the blessed woman to birth
that child. Their belief was this babe would grow to manhood
and rescue Israel from Roman reign. What Mary DID KNOW
was limited to what the men
knew, and even their
picture of the Christ-tocome
was skewed. The
men expected a victorious
warrior, a ruler to sit on the throne of David - a King who
would release them all from persecution. Perhaps Mary was
looking forward to a throne, not a tomb; a castle, not a
cross.
I know one thing - Mary didn't know Isaiah-the Prophet's
words that it would be a virgin who would conceive, for her
first question to the angel (after he settled her fears) was,
"How can this be when I have not known a man?" If she
was blind to that explicit truth, to what else was she blind?
No one saw the Messiah as Isaiah painted Him in chapter
53: a suffering servant. So what did Mary know? All we
know for certain is that Mary DID KNOW what the angel
told her, and every word built one upon another until they
crescendoed in her mind: I will be the Mother of the Christ.
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Here is what Mary DID KNOW:
Jesus
Savior of Sin
Miraculous Birth
Ruler over Jacob's House
Son of the MOST HIGH GOD
Exceedingly Great in Importance & Authority
A Gift of Jehovah, Yahweh, to one day Reign Over David's Throne
Messiah
Holy One
Luke 1:26-38
At this season of Advent, I am particularly thankful for the opportunities I have to learn and to
increase in knowledge, and with that knowledge to grow in grace and mercy. Advent's fulfillment
opened a whole knew world of expanded knowledge for me!
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Friday, Dec 11 - What Do I Know?
I continue to think about Mary...and I keep wondering about what the Lord God opened her eyes
to understand. I went back to read Isaiah 53. It's all in black and white. Yet, the teachers of the
law seemed to miss it. God the Father had allowed their eyes to be blind to the idea of His Son
being the Suffering Servant, in order that His plan of salvation be fulfilled. So, I'm guessing Mary
didn't know on the day her son was born what was in store for the Messiah, this wee babe. Isn't
that a good thing, though? What mom wants to see her newborn son shadowed by a cross over
his cradle? (That's one of the great gifts of God...He often shelters us from the KNOW until
we NEED TO KNOW!) So, it was a gift of grace these words weren't ringing in Mary's
ears that night in the manger:
He was despised and rejected by men;
a man of sorrows,
best friends with grief.
He was one from whom men hid their faces;
He was despised and un-esteemed.
He has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrow;
Yet He was stricken,
and afflicted,
Pierced for our transgressions;
Crushed for our iniquities
Upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace!
His wounds healed ours.
He was oppressed,
like a lamb led to the slaughter....
(Isaiah 53:3-7, paraphrased)
I'm so VERY thankful this was God's plan. There in the
midst of anguish is the gospel. God's Good News for mankind. He was pierced, crushed,
chastised, wounded...that I might be made whole, healed, set free, and given
peace....through His so-great-a-salvation!
He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, yet the world did not know Him. He
came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him. But to all who would receive Him,
who would believe in his name, He gave the right to become children of God, who were born,
not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. So the Word became
flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:10-14)
Mary may not have known that night in the Bethlehem stable, but Mary was a ponderer. Mary
had a teachable spirit. As her child grew, and she began to see things, and hear more things, I
have to believe the Lord opened her eyes slowly to His PLAN for ALL MANKIND. The pieces of
the puzzle began to come together. Grief and hope mingled...with peace. I have to believe that
as Jesus grew, Mary DID KNOW that her Son would soon Deliver her; and, in the midst of life,
Mary surrendered her son to death.
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There's a lot for me to learn from this woman of faith, this human mom, who is not unlike any of
us. The questions now are, "Peg - what do you know?" and “Are you living on that knowledge
by faith?” Advent is near!
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Saturday, Dec 12 - Advent is Near!
Yesterday, I left off asking myself a question, "Peg - what do you know?" I've thought A LOT
about that for twenty-four hours.
Mary had no Bible.
Mary had no resources.
Mary had no teachers.
Mary wasn't allowed to be educated in a
traditional sense.
I have a Bible; no, correction, I have
many Bibles of different translations.
I have resources - bookshelves full of
them, as well as a Kindle app filled to
overflowing.
I have the internet, filled with teachers of
high caliber and quality scholars.
I have total freedom to increase in
wisdom and knowledge.
What do I know, though?
It almost seems the more "food" available, the less the hunger. What a sad indictment on myself
in the midst of scholarly wealth and availability.
What do I know? And, why is it important? Because, Advent is near! Jesus will come again. As
the time draws nearer, the more the enemy wrestles to divert attention, to close our minds, to
hide the truth, to kill Peace. Just as He did the first time. This we should know, in the end times
there will be more trial, tribulation, and persecution than ever before. We could easily find
ourselves in a situation where Biblical information is as hard-to-get as other resources. The
enemy fears his future, so He will attempt to increase fear in God's people, attempting to
destroy in His wake for one last-ditch-effort to control.
Do I have a Mary-heart? A heart that ponders and longs for Truth? A heart that listens, and puts
the pieces of the puzzle together? Not just to ponder, but to remember? Not just to reference,
but to HIDE away forever? Not just to have available when needed, but to know and to have - to
hold onto for future courage and perseverance?
May I never fear the future, but meet it head on, because I have faithfully studied to that end.
Advent is near!
PS. We’re really not through discussing Mary…but tomorrow is our Third Advent Sunday (and
we light the candle representing JOY).
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Sunday, Dec 13 - Christmas JOY
As a little girl every Christmas Eve vespers service I ever attended began with this song, written
out below (here's a link to listen) and here are the words:
O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to Thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny
From depths of Hell Thy people save
And give them victory o’er the grave
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to Thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death’s dark shadows put to flight
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to Thee, O Israel
O come, Thou Key of David, come
And open wide our heavenly home
This is a haunting song. A song sung by people in captivity and bondage. A song of slavery. A
song of gloom and darkness. A song of the lonely. Yet...a song of hope. A song of promise. A
song of redemption. You hear it in the music and lyrics.
The good news is Emmanuel came at Christmas, and with Him came everything that which
those in slavery, darkness, and misery longed. Now, it's simply a matter of receiving... For all,
even those who are in that dark place that sometimes envelops over the holidays, there is JOY
to be found in Jesus. This is the story of the third advent candle: in His presence is fulness of
joy.
May we pass that on... Emmanuel came. He ransomed. He turned mourning into dancing. He
freed us from Satan's tyranny, brought victory over the grave, dispersed the gloomy clouds of
our lives, and cheered our spirits. May we live like we BELIEVE...and make it contagious to
others who don't know it yet. The Good News is Advent is near for all who believe and receive...
Step into the joy of freedom in Christ!
XXXX
**For a deeper discussion on the topic of joy, go to www.peg-justathought.blogspot.com. From December 29, 2014
through September 28, 2014, once a week, I blogged about my personal study on joy.
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Monday, Dec 14 - Pregnant With the Name
Studying the Christmas story in Dr. Luke’s gospel, sent me to his other book, the Acts of the
Holy Spirit, and in particular the life-changing, transformation of one named Saul (we know him
better as the Apostle Paul). I loved the Lord's words God spoke to Ananias about Paul.
Remember, Ananias was a little skittish when
God came to him and asked him to go and lay
hands on the man so that he might regain his
sight. Rightly so, Ananias had heard much
about Paul, the evil he had inflicted on God's
saints, his brethren. Of course, God jumps all
over Ananias for his doubt! (Duh, no! I'm just
checking to make sure you're really
reading…). God assures Ananias with these
words, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of
mine to carry my name before the Gentiles
and kings and the children of Israel. I will show
him how much he must suffer for the sake of
my name (Acts 9: 12-16).
The words spoken are interesting enough, but
one word in particular is intriguing. It's the word
"carry," which means "to bear" (as in a woman
"bearing a child"). Paul's calling from the Lord:
to be pregnant with the name of Jesus. Add to
that this charge, too: as a woman would
"suffer" in child-birth, Paul would suffer the
pains of bearing the Name.
I've often related my salvation transformation
to Paul's. I know, that sounds a bit prideful.
Believe me, I recognize mine wasn't on the
magnitude of Paul's (and I hadn't been quite as evil), but my life, my desires, my behavior all
changed overnight. Most of all, I believed the night of my salvation that God had placed a call on
my life to "carry the name of the Lord" and to present Him in a way that others might KNOW
HIM as I had come to know Him. That call is still vivid and clear. So, like Paul, my mission, our
mission, as believers, is to "bear the name of Jesus" -
Where's this going? All that background to say this: Like Mary I am called to bear the Savior, to
bring Him forth for the people, this Savior of mankind. That led me to thinking back to Mary's
response to her call: Mary's Magnificat. A call that important requires a proper response!
Tomorrow: MY MAGNIFICAT!
I'm wondering...have you ever written yours? What a great time of year to do so, don't you think!
Advent is near!
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Tuesday, Dec 15 - My Magnificat
(...a continuation from yesterday)
Tis the season for Magnificats; and God has given me a joy-job (to bear the name of Jesus)!
MY MAGNIFICAT (of sorts)
My soul rejoices in the Lord
For He is the God of the Impossible-Made-Possible
He is the BIG GOD for the Little One
The God of BIG DEEDS
The God of STRENGTH
The God of HELP
The God of HEALING
The God Who Brings HOPE
The God Who SATISFIES the HUNGRY
Holy is His Name
Merciful is His Character
Grace is His motive
Powerful are His acts
My soul rejoices in the Lord
For He has chosen me to be
His instrument -
A vessel of honor,
Set-apart,
Useful to the Master,
Prepared for every good work.
He has impregnated me
With the fulness of His Holy Spirit,
To spill forth
- faith
- wisdom
- grace, and
- life-changing power,
- to agree
that I AM a follower of Jesus, the Christ
- the EXPECTED ONE!
What precious, priceless cargo!
May I carry it as Paul must have after Ananias lay hands on
him so long ago,
- proudly
- protectively
- possessively
- purposely, and with
- priority.
Certainly, he was persecuted.
Yes, ultimately put to death.
But along the pathways of his journey many praised God!
Because of Him,
Picked up the name, and
Carried on...
And when others see me - even from a distance,
May something deep within their spirits leap for joy,
Because they recognize that for me
To Live is CHRIST!
Because He has bestowed upon me
The Blessing
Of Bearing His Name
Wherever He might send:
- next door
- across the street
- within the state
- the country
- across the sea
- maybe, even to church!
So may I carry that name, like a phylactery
Bound to me for all to see
- to know
- to understand
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Wednesday, Dec 16 - I’ll Be Home for Christmas
Every time I turn on the Pandora Christmas-music-station, I hear someone crooning, "I'll be
home for Christmas..." It's such a sad, nostalgic Christmas song, made more so by the fact that
not everyone I love can be home for Christmas. During the holidays, I miss my grown-up-kids
the most. Don't get me wrong, I love that they are able to create their own family traditions
(those are IMPORTANT!). I am thrilled to think of them with their kiddos, carrying on some of the
same ones that we instilled: attending the Christmas Eve service, gathering at home afterwards
drinking some of Aunt Kim's Egg Nog (her special, yes, non-alcoholic, recipe is the BEST),
reading the Christmas story, tearing open a few presents before bed, saving Christmas
stockings & a surprise gift for morning... What I miss is the magic that family makes by being
together. So, we've learned to make that magic happen whenever we can...and, I'm glad that
my kiddos work at finding the few times we can all gather under one roof.
For Jesus-followers, that haunting we feel
at Christmas-time, that longing for home,
for family, is simply a poignant reminder
that none of us are HOME. We'll never
really have that hole in our hearts filled until
we reach heaven's gates. Oh, we may sense
the magic for a few brief days, when family
can gather together, but it's simply a foretaste
of what we really are seeking - being at home
in the presence of our Savior. We will never
be fully satisfied until we are home with
Jesus. The Jesus-disciple, Peter, got that fact
- he looked beyond earth to that place about
which his Lord taught. As Jesus explained
the fact of His coming death to His disciples,
He used these words:
"In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to
prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take
you to myself, that where I am you may be also (John 14: 2-3, ESV)."
So, Peter reminds us,
"Friends, this world isn't your home, so don't make ourselves cozy in it...(1 Peter 2:11, MSG)"
Advent is more than just a current season of approximately 25-30 days. Advent is ahead. Jesus
is currently preparing for another Christmas. A Christmas when all the family who are in-Christ
will be together celebrating in His Father's mansion. I look forward with anticipation to that day.
So much so, that I don't want to be "cozy" here. And, just as my adult-kids work hard to make
together-times happen, I will do my part to work at making an eternal gathering with those I love
possible. Think of the magic of that time! Advent is near!
Today's Advent Lesson: One day, those of us in-Christ will all be home for Christmas. Let's
prepare for that Advent by sending out Kingdom invitations. What a day that will be!
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Thursday, Dec 17 - Do Not Fear
There are a lot of "do not fear" statements in the Christmas story. Ever noticed? As I was rereading
the various accounts in the four gospels, the "do not fear" comments (mostly from a
visiting angel) were spoken to a number of the critical players in the nativity story. However,
there was one spoken to Joseph that leapt off the page and into my heart:
Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is
from the Holy Spirit...all this has taken place to fulfill what the Lord spoke to the prophet, Isaiah,
"Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and He shall be called, Immanuel (which
means, God with us)."
Matthew 1:20, 23
Talk about a fearful season for all the principle characters necessary to bring God's Son into and
up in this world. Each found themselves constantly under a cloud of threat, fear of the future,
and the possibilities of imminent death. Yet, over and over again, that visiting angel spoke words
of assurance, "Do not fear..." Do not fear for God has come to you. Do not fear for God is now
with you. Do not fear you are never alone. Do not fear for He will save you. Do not fear, your
prayers have been heard. Do not fear for I have brought you tidings of great joy.
"Do not fear!" is an integral part of the Advent Story...
We may not have an angel visit us today in our dreams, in a vision, or in person. Yet, we have
this truth tucked away in the lines of the Jesus-story with which we can cling: He is with
us...always! Even unto the end of the age!
Jesus Christ: the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Sovereign God.
The in-charge-I-AM, who oversees every outcome for a good we may not currently see, who will
accomplish what He purposes, is the God of the Details.
This God is with me. His name is Immanuel!
Do.Not.Fear.
Advent is near!
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Friday, Dec 18 - Every Knee Shall Bow
This is one of my favorite Christmas ornaments. It happens to be the only Santa-anything I have
in our house this time of year. Every year I put up my little fake tree that is home to every nativity
ornament I own, and, this one is front and center. I love that Santa is kneeling in front of the
manger. It puts everything about Christmas back in perspective. It's not about Santa…it’s about
EVERY MAN! What I love most is that Santa is worshipping. It reminds me that Christmas is
about humble beginnings and humble continuings (I know that's not a word, I like it, anyway).
Jesus humbled Himself by becoming a babe, living simply, dying wholeheartedly on my behalf;
I'm to live out His example on a daily basis. I love that at the bottom of this ornament it has
these words:
That at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus
Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father!
Philippians 2:10-11
There it is. The true response to Christmas.
Advent is near!
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Saturday, Dec 19 - Who Am I?
I collect nativity scenes. I have them from all over the world; and they are placed all over my
house. I enjoy putting them out every Christmas. Some years I hold back on just how many get
unwrapped; I go for simplicity. Other years, they all go up. No matter how many go on the
shelves, as I put the figures in place, there is a question that seems to hang over my head: Who
am I in the Christmas story? Over the next few days, let's explore each figure, their character
traits, and the role they played in the Jesus-story.
Mary.
I know. We've already looked at Mary some little
bit. So, here's what I see in this woman:
Pure in heart.
Teachable.
Humble.
Surrendered.
Sacrificial.
Willing to be willing.
Obedient.
Reflective.
Ready.
Faith-full!
Filled with God (literally and metaphorically).
Not fear-less, but courageous.
Human.
Here are some of my favorite God-words about
Mary.
Greetings, O favored one (highly sought after, filled with grace), the Lord is with you! (Luke
1:28, 30)
And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your
word." (Luke 1:38)
Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from
the Lord. (Luke 1:45)
My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the
humble estate of his servant... (Luke 1:46-48)
Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. (Luke 2:19)
As we read God's words, we can see so much depth of character between the lines, in the
woman God chose to mother His Son. If anyone had a mama's heart, Mary did! If anyone
understood what it meant to be a servant of the Lord Most High, Mary did! If anyone willingly
surrendered her life to sacrificial obedience - it was Mary!
Are you Mary?
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Am I?
If I'm a Mary, then I am a surrendered servant willing to be willing to receive from God's hand
whatever He asks...
Ah, but there are still more folks around that manger at which to take a good long glance.
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Sunday, Dec 20 - Who Am I (2)?
No nativity is complete without the man hand-picked by God to be the step-father of His Son,
namely, Joseph. What a responsibility! I often wonder what kind of thoughts ran through
Joseph's mind as Jesus was growing? What kind
of man was he?
Very little is said about Joseph in Scripture. Most
of what we know about Joseph is found in
Matthew's account of the story.
His genealogy was impeccable.
His reputation was faultless.
In the spiritual arena, Joseph's way of thinking,
feeling, and acting were "wholly conformed to the
will of God" (meaning of the Gk word, dikaios, translated "just").
Physically, he was a strong man - a carpenter by trade (my husband comes from a family of
carpenters, so this I know by experience).
In matters of the heart, he wrestled to do right. It's obvious, where Mary was concerned, Joseph
was torn between "law" and "love"...but above all, he was "unwilling to put Mary to shame" (that
speaks of a pretty tender soul).
He was quick to obedience, yet patient in practice. As soon as the angel spoke to him in a
dream, Joseph believed... His belief turned to quick action. True belief always moves to quick
action. This is repeated about Joseph with every move he and Mary made.
On the other hand, Joseph was a patient man...He was willing to wait on intimacy. To me this
speaks of great love, not just for God, but for his wife. After all, one of the first attributes listed
for true love is patience.
These are my favorite God-words about Joseph:
When Joseph awoke form sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his
wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son.
Matthew 1:24
If I'm a Joseph, then I'm willing to wrestle with tension that often comes between "law"
and "love." I am patient in practice as I wait on God's timing, but quick to obedience
when God speaks.
Am I a Joseph?
Are you?
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Monday, Dec 21 - Who Am I (3)?
So far, gotta tell ya, I’m no Mary, and I’m definitely no Joseph! However, next on the scene are
the shepherds. Simple men. Smelly (they spent their entire day around sheep, for goodness
sake!). Here's what I've learned about shepherd's during Jesus day.** Once shepherds held
some level of esteem, and the occupation noble, as during the days of Abraham and a young,
pre-king, David. By the time of Jesus' birth, this was no longer so. Shepherds were at the
bottom of the social ladder, sharing the same status as tax collectors and dung sweepers.
(Bummer!) They are only mentioned in Luke's gospel. Shepherds were marginalized, belittled,
and stereotyped. In the Mishnah, Judaism's written record of the oral law, it is written that no
one should ever feel obligated to rescue a shepherd who has fallen into a pit. Such prejudice
extended to civil rights - shepherds were completely deprived. For goodness sake, a shepherd
wasn't even admitted into a public court to testify as a witness. Some shepherds came by their
reputation rightly, others not so much. Regardless, to be a shepherd was to be despised.
In order to relate to a shepherd on the hillside, I had to think of the most marginalized, illthought-of
people in current society. Not wanting to admit to my own social prejudices, I asked
"Google." I typed into the search engine, "most despised people group in American society."
The first fifteen (that's what showed up on my page #1) entries popped up the following answer:
atheists. I found that intriguing. So, picture a group of atheists sitting on a hillside, chatting about
whatever atheists find to chat about, and a group of angels surround them with the birth
announcement of a Savior sent from a God-they-don't-even-believe-exists. All of a sudden, we
have atheists-no-more! All of a sudden, David Silverman, Peter Singer, Richard Dawkins,
Michael Martin (and a host of Hollywood actors & actresses) are showing up in churches and
singing the praise of God the Father, and telling unbelievable stories. All of a sudden, the
religious leaders of our day are baffled! What's happening? Not only are they baffled, their
noses are totally out of joint. God wouldn't unveil the greatest mystery of all time to these men!
Don't lose sight of this irony... However, it was the least expected that Jesus came to save. His
mission was to move among the lowly and the outcast, to seek and to save the lost! Not the
healthy, but the sick, needed the doctor!
To be a shepherd around the manger required a miracle of brokenness. To be a shepherd
around the manger meant I recognized my lostness. To be a shepherd around the manger
meant that I set aside all my worries about what people thought, and desired to SEE the
SAVIOR more than I FEARED REJECTION. To be a shepherd around the manger meant that
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the safety net found in my identity, even as an outcast, had to be lost, so I could be found.
Shepherds breeze in and out of the Nativity Story rather quickly, but what a huge place
they hold: the unbelieving believing. They are the second greatest miracle of the Advent!
No wonder they went away glorifying and praising God, and telling the wonderful story of all
they had seen and heard!
In many ways, here I am! I am the Shepherd!
**** All credit given to Randy Alcorn, "Shepherd Status" in Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus, Nancy Guthrie, Editor,
Crossway Books, 2008, pp. 85-89.
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Tuesday, Dec 22 - Who Am I (4)?
Some nativities include the wise men who traveled from afar to visit the young child, Jesus.
Really, these figures don't belong near the manger. I suppose if I were to be correct, I'd place
them across the room somewhere. I don't know when they first saw the star, announcing the
birth of the King of the Jews, but Jesus was almost, if not, two years old before they arrived.
Another thing, we don't really know for sure, is that there were just three of them. There could
have been 300...Scripture doesn't make it clear. We simply know they gave the little King three
gifts. And, they weren't really Kings, they were "wise" men, smart men, knowledgable in the
sciences, the study of the stars, agriculture, mathematics, as well as, political and religious
information.
These "wise" men had been around since Daniel's day (see Daniel 6), and had probably come
from as far away as Babylon (currently the area around Baghdad). Undoubtedly, they had been
greatly influenced in Judaism, and possibly had benefitted from the legacy and prophecy of
Daniel, himself. Other than this, we don't know a lot about these men...they were strangers on
the scene, but strangers who rattled the courts of King Herod, and all the chief priests, for sure!
Yet, come they did, and a very long way (out of their way) just to see this special child and
worship Him! We can learn much about worship from these men. In fact, all I really know
about the wise men is how to experience true worship!
As we wind down the Advent season, this is a perfect time to contemplate our worship of the
King of Kings. What does it look like to worship? How can I, just like these wise men, come to
him with a whole heart prepared to honor Him on the day of his birth?
Worship often means stepping out of my comfort zone. Just as the magi went out of their way,
true worship means I may struggle with some feelings of mental discomfort. I go the extra mile...
True worship includes physical expression. The wise men "rejoiced exceedingly with great
joy" (that doesn't sound like reverent whispers to me!). They "fell down and worshiped him."
True worship gives. "Opening their treasures, they offered Him gifts..."
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True worship is excessive. "...gold, frankincense, myrrh."
Gold: worship gives sacrificially out of our wealth (a little P.S. here: it really is true, we've never
been able to out-give God...we give, He always gives back).
Frankincense: a gift of perfume, or incense, which is representative of the prayers of our heart
(research Scripture, and you often find references to prayer as a "sweet smelling offering" to the
Lord). A worshipping heart is a prayerful heart.
Myrrh: an anointing oil, often used to anoint a body in death. Myrrh, representative of an offering
of our lives - wholehearted and complete.
As I look back over each of these thoughts, I guess I can summarize true worship with two
words: reckless abandon...
In a couple of days, I get to commemorate Christ's birth, as do you. We'll all do so differently,
with a day filled with traditions familiar to each of our homes. But, may we, also, do so with a
worship that's somewhat reminiscent of King David as he danced through the streets of
Jerusalem with the Ark of the Covenant... What a celebration of worship our Savior deserves!
Advent is near!
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Wednesday, Dec 23 - Jesus Didn’t Follow the Rules
As I’ve been studying different passages of Scripture in preparation for Advent, the following
thought keeps running through my head. Jesus wasn’t what anyone EXPECTED!
Sometimes, yes, He was ALL they hoped for, other times, not so much! Not at all.
A few summer’s back, one of our small grand-treasures had been out horseback riding with his
Papa. At one point, Bay gave him a little instruction on how to hold the reins properly so he
could better direct his horse. As they returned to the corral, we asked Ethan how the ride went.
His dejected response: “I didn’t do the rules…” We still get a chuckle out of the inflection of
disappointment in his voice as he told us that news. I thought of that story the other day, as I
was thinking about Jesus-come-to-earth-in-flesh. He definitely didn’t do the rules!
Remember the teaching of Jesus at Matthew’s
house about the wineskins? He was answering
the questions of the religious leaders as to why
He did things so differently… Why did Jesus eat
with sinners & tax-collectors? Why didn’t He fast
like the rest of them? Jesus answer was that He
wanted them to consider a whole new way of
thinking…He was letting them know that with His
coming, He would initiate a NEW Covenant
relationship…
So, I had to go back and look at Jesus’ teaching
to that point in Matthew 9. Jesus taught as one
with authority, but Jesus teachings are quite
paradoxical to typical thought of the day.
Example: His first sermon on the hillside.
Consistently, we read Jesus say these words,
“You have heard…” He then follows those words
with a new thought, “…but I tell you…” As a
result, He confused His Jewish brethren. While it
appeared as if He could be the Messiah, He was
unlike anything they had hoped or expected.
Not only were His teachings different, His actions
were unexplainable. He reaches out (&
TOUCHES, heaven-forbid!) the untouchables
and the unlovables. He befriends tax-collectors
and Roman soldiers. He honors a despicable
Samaritan, a woman, no less, with words of
encouragement, a hope for tomorrow, and presents her with salvation. He heals lepers,
welcomes prostitutes, and casts out demons. He talks about not judging others, then appears to
judge those who are the righteous, while welcoming the unrighteous. He parties instead of
fasting. Jesus was confusing, because Jesus didn’t fit a safe, explainable package. As a
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esult, the sons of Abraham couldn’t seem to wrap their minds around the concept of Him as
their Messiah.
I wonder, then, what is the church’s view of Jesus? Have we tried to make him safe? Have we
tried to create a version of Jesus that is explainable? If so, in doing, have we truly given the
world an accurate picture of a God-of-mystery? A God who will take a lifetime to understand and
to know? I’m afraid I might be guilty of wanting to make Jesus so desirable that I attempt to
make him explainable. Yet, the bottom line is that I don’t want an explainable, comprehendible,
live-up-to-my-expectations Jesus. I want a God who is approachable, yes! I want a God who
loves me, yes! I want a God who cares and reaches out to touch and embrace and draw near,
absolutely! Yet, I want a God of mystery. I want a Jesus who doesn’t fit any box of thought or
expectation. I want Jesus to be so big, He’s unexplainable, for if I can explain Him - He ceases
to be God. If I minimize His mystery, I no longer need Him. Indeed, I NEED HIM too much for
this to be the case. May I always marvel at His mystery, and help others to do the same! I hope I
never figure Jesus out...
Reflect more on this thought as Christmas draws closer still…What is your picture of Jesus?
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Thursday, Christmas Eve - It’s Complicated!
This morning, I've been thinking about all the complications surrounding the birth of Jesus. Just
think with me -
Mary was pregnant out of wedlock.
She was under threat of stoning.
Hanging over Mary's head was the question of
whether or not Joseph would believe her,
divorce her, or throw her to the wolves to be
judged and executed...
Joseph had to wrestle with the same question,
then when he thought he'd finally decided....
Joseph was asked to sacrifice his reputation to
take Mary home as his bride.
The gossip they endured because of this alone
was severe, but add to that the curiosity that
raised people's eyebrows when Joseph and
Mary claimed the child was "born of the Holy
Spirit, would save people from their sins, and
was, in fact, the long-expected Messiah..."
In Mary's last days of pregnancy they had to
make a long, and unplanned trip to register for
tax purposes, along with a huge crowd.
There was no easy way to travel, so they went
by donkey.
Along the way, Mary went into labor.
We think the lines at the grocery store are long
this time of year - I can't imagine the lines in
Bethlehem that year with everything recorded by
hand in the "old-fashioned" way.
There were no rooms available, no doctor or mid-wife, no epidurals or pain meds, only
straw, the undercurrent of noisy barn-animals, and a feeding trough.
Once the child was born, they were forced to move frequently, literally overnight, as the
result of angelic-sleep-interrupted dreams.
Their lives were in danger - often.
Baby boys two and under were slaughtered as King Herod tried to wipe out the potential
political threat of another King who might usurp him (Mary and Joseph had to feel the weight
of that horrific event).
All this to say, Jesus' birth-story was not easy for His earthly parents.
Even by the time Mary & Joseph reached the eve of the birth of God's Son, it had been difficult
enough. I wonder then - just what was running through their heads? I'm thinking I'd be
screaming, "I didn't sign up for ALL THIS! I take it back! I'm not your woman!”
HOWEVER...I expect, even in their humanness, this was not the response from this young
couple. I imagine they had to be doing, just what we need to be doing, when life is hard,
confusing, unplanned, and the road ahead extraordinarily foggy: they were remembering. (My
soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember...Psalm 42:6b)
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Remembering angels sent from God.
Remembering God-words.
Remembering dreams and visions, too real to be made up.
Remembering validations from godly fore-runners (such as Zechariah and Elizabeth) who
supported them with affirmation.
Remembering prophecies of the Old Testament scrolls - the Words of God literally coming
true before their eyes.
Remembering unexplained open doors, protection, and provision.
I expect, even in their humanness, they were doing exactly what we should do amidst the
difficulties of life: they were looking forward with hope. (Why are you cast down, O my
soul, and why in turmoil within? Hope in God...Psalm 42:11)
Looking forward to new life.
Looking forward to watching the unfolding of God's plan.
Looking forward to being a part of a future of freedom, peace, and leadership
Looking forward to being a part God's intentional purpose.
Looking forward to God-with-them their hope of glory.
Looking forward to a coming salvation...even their own!
I expect, even in their humanness, they were doing exactly what we should do when life catches
us by surprise and takes our breath away: they were clinging to every little blessing they
could tangibly see. (Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give
thanks to Him, and bless His name! Psalm 100:4)
The blessing of being on a journey together.
The blessing of understanding and knowing they
were a part of something bigger than themselves.
The blessing of provision.
The blessing of insight, wisdom, and direction.
The blessing of shepherds showing up at their door,
even unannounced, to remind them they were still in
the middle of God's Great Unveiling.
I can just hear them counting and re-counting all
God had done and was doing day by day, hour by
hour, minute by minute to take care of them...
This Christmas eve...these are the gifts I desire to
unwrap. Three gifts: 1) remembrance of God's
faithfulness, 2) hopeful, forward-looking, and, 3) an
attitude of gratitude for every thing He has done on
my behalf.
Above all...May I take away the obvious fact, God is still at work all around me, even when
things seem a little (or a lot) dim.
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Thursday, Christmas Day - He Came for Me!
It's Christmas. Jesus Christ, the Savior-WITH-us, has been born. Simply reflect on these
following truths today. Read them over and over. Let them soak deeply into your heart.
Remember who, what, and why!
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people; He has raised
up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David.
He will be...Immanuel. The Word (who) became flesh and dwelt among us...full of grace and
truth!
In Him was LIFE, and that LIFE was the light of men...
Because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the SUNRISE shall visit us from on high to
give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way
of peace.
Indeed, my eyes have seen your salvation...a light for
revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to Your people
Israel.
(Luke 1:68-69; Matthew 1:23; John 1:14; John 1:4-5; Luke
1:78-79)
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The Word became flesh...
The light that could not be overcome by darkness.
The light to guide our feet into a peaceful way.
My Salvation (me, a Gentile)!
My Redeemer.
My Glory.
My Sunrise!
Thank you, God my Father, Jesus the Son & sweet,
tender Spirit of my Living Lord-
In humble reverence
I worship You this day and throughout the New Year!
Merry Christmas!
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