Tagged: Christmas

For all the wise men and women I know across the nations. After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, in the time of King Herod, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem saying, “Where is the one who is born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When they saw the star they shouted joyfully. As they came into the house and saw the child with Mary his mother, they bowed down and worshiped him. They opened their treasure boxes and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Matthew 2:1, 10-11 Wisdom asks questions, wisdom shouts joyfully, and wisdom bows down. The wise men of Matthew 2 were seeking the One… Read More

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, a descendant of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. The angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled by his words and began to wonder about the meaning of this greeting. So the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God! Listen: You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and… Read More

  During the reign of Herod king of Judea, there lived a priest named Zechariah who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah, and he had a wife named Elizabeth, who was a descendant of Aaron. They were both righteous in the sight of God, following all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly. But they did not have a child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both very old.  Luke 1:5-7 They were both righteous in the sight of God…blameless, but… Hard things happen to good people. Righteous people. People who follow every dot and tittle of the law and try to honor God with everything they do. Even for a lifetime. As one friend says, This is the Way. The way… Read More

This is the record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, Judah the father of Perez and Zerah (by Tamar), Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, Salmon the father of Boaz (by Rahab), Boaz the father of Obed (by Ruth), Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David the king.  Matthew 1:1-6 She was running the race alone. Walking, truth be told. The dust rose around us like red clouds as the sun demanded everything come out… Read More

The people walking in darkness see a bright light; light shines on those who live in a land of deep darkness.   Isaiah 9:2 Darkness has some strange effects on the mind and body. Studies have shown that humans who live in darkness for prolonged periods behave differently. There is even an entire field of biology called chronobiology devoted to studying the effects of light and darkness on humans, or the effects of solar and lunar activity on living creatures. You might have heard of the circadian rhythm, the internal wake-sleep cycle in humans. Or Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), the effect of darkness during late fall and winter on one’s mental state. Some people refer to it as the “winter blues.” Countries far north of… Read More

  The gloom will be dispelled for those who were anxious. Isaiah 9:1 Gloom is defined by the Collins Dictionary as “a state of near darkness” or “a feeling of sadness or lack of hope.” It’s hard to see during the gloomy hour just before nightfall. Details are blurry. Lines on the road seem to disappear. People look like shadows, and it takes extra effort to focus.  Anxiety can have the same effect, pitching us into a state of near darkness, flooding us with sadness, and diminishing hope. It’s hard to see clearly when our minds and hearts grow dim with anxiety. In the gloom, we are more likely to cross boundaries or let someone else cross ours. We might bump into someone and cause… Read More

When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.  Matthew 2:10-11   May the kings of Tarshish and of the isles      render him tribute,  may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts! Psalm 72:10 A multitude of camels shall cover you,      the young camels of Mid′ian and Ephah;      all those from Sheba shall come.  They shall bring gold and frankincense,      and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord.  Isaiah 60:6 We tend to value most that for which we pay the highest… Read More

for sw happy anniversary Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.  Ecclesiastes 4:12   Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”  Matthew 19:4-6 From a cultural perspective, Mary and Joseph's marriage was doomed. Christmas came square into the middle of a society that weighed life on the scales of honor and shame. Every decision and every behavior was measured against… Read More

I am a witness to the story I tell today. It is sure and true. Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”  And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. Revelation 5:5,9 There is a movement happening this Christmas across sand-swept deserts and barren basins of land long scarred by tribal conflict. Village elders are embracing Jesus. Skeptic women are surrendering to His… Read More

Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot—yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root. Isaiah 11:1 I named him Oliver, and he was the cutest olive tree I’d ever seen. Sitting brave in his hand-hewn pot right in the middle of the village market, he seemed to be expecting me. I bought him immediately and took him home to live on my terrace.  Day after day, I tended him. I read books about how to care for him; I carefully placed him in the optimal spot for sun. I watered him just the right amount. In winter I brought him inside, and he only complained slightly by dropping a few leaves. Spring came again, and he grew taller. I… Read More