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Somewhere in time, the day before yesterday, it was Christmas.  I should be reflecting on Christmas or making New Year resolutions.  I should be, but I’m working today.  I worked the day after Christmas. 

I’m thankful I have a job, but this time of year it feels like I don’t have time to celebrate.  I work overtime like crazy and then I have one day to celebrate one of the most spectacular events in human history.

So in honor of the days after Christmas – for those of us who would still like to celebrate, I give this verse to ponder.

 

Psalm 118:24New King James Version (NKJV)

²⁴ This is the day the Lord has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in in it.

Happy day after Christmas.

 

The Christ Candle

O Holy Night 

 

 

Somewhere in time, approximately two thousand and fourteen years ago, a child was born in a manger.  This child revolutionized the world.

The Final Candle of advent is the Christ Candle. Traditionally it’s a white candle.

That special night Mary knew the child she carried was Holy.  Joseph knew the Christ child was to be born.  But did they expect the angels, the star or the wise men.  Probably not, but imagine how wondrous that all must have seemed.  

Did they expect when their child was still young, he would be amazing elders in the temple?  Did they know he could make the lame walk or the blind see? 

Did they know he would be crucified?

Did they realize that twelve hundred and fourteen years later, people would set aside a day to celebrate the birth of our Savior?

I don’t think they did.  I think our human minds can’t grasp the vision of God. But they knew, from that day on, the world would change.  

Matthew 1:21New King James Version (NKJV)

²¹ And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

Christmas is a time to remember that love came to earth.  God stepped down from His throne in heaven, to humble himself and be born as a baby. In the most humble of circumstances, in the most humble of places, the creator took on the form of the created in order to show His infinite love for us.

As we celebrate, the most holy of holidays, let’s give glory to God on the highest.  Merry Chirstmas!

 

 

Shepherds watching thier flocks

Advent, the third Sunday

 

 

Somewhere in time, this Sunday, it’s the third Sunday of Advent.  Learning about Advent has been interesting.  Each special part of the Christmas story is celebrated.  This time, it’s the shepherds.

With the Shepherd candle, we celebrate joy and hope.

If we think about it, shepherds were not the rulers of society. They were not revered, or wealthy or powerful.   They lived alone at times, out in the elements, guarding sheep. 

But God wanted to show that his coming was for everyone.  There were wise men following a star, but there were also shepherds just watching their sheep. Doing what they always do with no idea of the miracle happening nearby.

Suddenly the sky grew bright as a host of angels appeared. 

Luke 2:8-14New King James Version (NKJV)

Glory in the Highest

⁸ Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹ And behold,^[a] an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. ¹⁰ Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. ¹¹ For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹² And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”

¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”^[b]

Sometimes, when our lives are filled with the daily grind of responsibilities, we may feel like shepherds.  We are not rich, powerful or even known or respected by thousands of people. 

But God came to earth for us.

Our joy doesn’t come from our circumstances and our hope is not in this world. 

What could be better than that?

 

The Bethlehem Candle

Advent – 2nd Sunday 

 

 

Somewhere in time, tomorrow is the second Sunday of Advent. The second candle is the Bethlehem candle.  

Bethlehem was part of prophecy; it was known the Messiah was to be born there.

It brought to mind something I saw on television a few years back. They tried to unravel the mystery of Jesus and basically they were so far off it was funny.    One theory was that she was an unwed mother, so the stories of angels and miracles were told to hide this unpleasant fact. They traveled to Bethlehem to make it look convincing.

Well – come on – they are missing several parts of the story.

How did this young couple convince Caesar to issue a decree that would send them to Bethlehem?

How did they get wise men to travel for many months to see the newborn child?

How did they make the angels appear to the shepherds watching their sheep in the hills?

How did they convince a star to shine so brightly people could see if for miles around?

How did they know to flee to Egypt right before the decree to kill all infant boys in Israel was enacted? 

I think it’s easier and makes much more sense if we just agree that Jesus was God made man.  God stepped out of paradise to join the people of earth in the most humble of circumstances – but the entire universe knew the ruler of the universe was here.    

 

Micah 5:2New King James Version (NKJV)

The Coming Messiah

² “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Though you are little among the thousands of Judah,
Yet out of you shall come forth to Me
The One to be Ruler in Israel,
Whose goings forth are from of old,
From everlasting.”