Good morning all-
I woke up at 4:44 am this morning and I guess it was time for me to wake up. It's 5:09 am, my coffee is brewing and the lights on my Christmas tree are twinkling in the dark. The first thing I thought of was the star that the wise men followed. You know the one that lit up the sky. These great men knew that if they followed it, they would meet the King of Kings.
We worry about what time we get up, how many things need to get done and who we left off a shopping list. We run from one activity to the next hoping the day won't go too fast and just praying that everything on our list will get checked off before we hit the pillow. But on the day of Jesus birth, His mother only hoped for a place to have Him and Joseph was praying He would get her there and the wise men were anticipating meeting the Messiah. And then, He was born in a barn with animals all around because the Inn was full. Our Messiah wasn't born in a hospital, He was born on hay. Do we remember that as the day approaches. That His Father guided men through the night by a star that was so bright it lit up the night and that He was born on straw. I couldn't have made that word picture any more dynamic, could you?
December is a hard month for me and it just now seems to be getting easier. My father passed away on the 3rd of December and my mom on the 20th. My birthday is the 23rd. How ironic is that? I could have let the devastation I felt after losing each one of them change the jubilation of Christmas but I didn't. Christmas is more than lights on a tree or buying presents. Christmas is the celebration of our King. We forget that as we hurry toward the day. In some ways I think the Jews understand this better. They spend time singing prayers at Passover. It's a time of remembrance. We need to be in the same frame of mind. The wise men were. They were on a long journey anticipating the Savior and where did they see Him, in a manger surrounded by hay and animals. Our beautiful king born humbly on a starlit night. That's why with all the sadness, I came through. Jesus was my guiding light through the darkness. He lifted me up and helped me see the beauty of this season. This is a time of rejoicing, loving others and being one with our Lord. Every day we should wander to a place where He fills our minds but especially as we approach His birthday. Every morning should be a jubilation of prayers and offerings. It's not only a great time to give; it's a great time to praise. Be one with our Lord in asking for Him to guide you so that you might comfort others this time of year. He was our light then and still is. Remember that star God made bright. It was His sign that His Son was born!
So as I sit here in the wee hours of the morning, I am praising my Savior for reminding me of the beauty in this season and the wonderful parents He gave me. I'm hoping that they are dancing on the streets of gold and praising Him today. May God bless you if you are hurting as we approach His birth. Remember He didn't come as a rich man He came as a poor man, born in a manger. I'm humbled by Him.
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: “ ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ” Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. (Matthew 2:1-12 NIV)
You know reading this reminded me that not only did He come into this world humbly but then His parents had to flee. Our King born in hay, fled hours from His birth to escape a corrupt King. What a day! I hope that as you read this, you begin to really see the beauty in remembering those that have gone before us. They set the stage today. And although we can't see Him, we need to go before Him with our treasures. He is our King. With that, I leave you. I hope that you write a prayer down and worship Him this very day. He deserves our honor.
No comments:
Post a Comment