Presenting a Baby Jesus

 

One of my manger scenes, a mix of nativity sets.  Spanish moss serves as straw.   Some time I will tell you about the creche I saw in Europe.

I had ideas for a December 2023 Christmas blog, but I couldn’t carve out the time for writing that post last month.  Today, Epiphany, also called Three Kings’ Day and Little Christmas, as the church calendar commemorates the Magi’s visit to Jesus, presenting their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to Him, I present two Jesus stories.  The first is one I wrote last year, when my blog was down due to a major hacking.  I added secondly, another Jesus story I posted in December 2021.  May you enjoy these gifts from me, that I hope remind you of the great story of Jesus our Savior.

“Presenting a Baby Jesus” – 2022

He was born a sickly baby. For whatever reason, his parents left him in the care of hospital social workers; his physical condition would require intense medical treatment for the foreseeable future. Yet he survived infancy and continued in the care of hospital staff. He grew, although he was not nurtured, and therefore did not make the baby milestones of sitting, walking, and talking. Eventually the toddler, still facing serious medical challenges, needed a home and guardians. Social services reached out to a couple who had experience with adoption and fostering, and who also had medical expertise. The couple prayerfully considered the situation: it was not a plan they had in mind, but is it ever? They agreed to become his temporary guardians.

In the following months, the little guy required highly specialized medical intervention. His foster parents procured doctors who could address his complex needs. At one point, it required weeks of living out of state with him for surgery, hospital convalescence and follow-up. His medical outcome was good, and he began to gain childhood developments, even though his long-term prognosis and life-expectancy were uncertain.

Eventually, social services approached the couple about permanent adoption. Again, after prayerful consideration, the couple decided not to adopt the little boy. Their own children were grown, and they felt the child needed a young family. At this point, one of the couple’s grown children, who had been adopted herself, asked to adopt the little boy. She had been around him often as her parents had fostered him and she felt called to be his mother. Miraculously, the social agency processed the bureaucratic red tape successfully, and the young woman became his mother. The child now has a home and he is part of a big family whom he has known since his earliest memory.

Nativity cutout ornaments from a friend; hung on a very bright day!

I got to meet this sweet little guy and his family last Christmas. He is full of love and life. As he and his mother left the gathering, he went around the table one by one, giving each of us a good-bye hug. And what is his name? Jesus. Can you believe he shares the name of our Savior, whose birth we celebrate at Christmas!? It is Christ’s birth, life and resurrection that allows us to be adopted into God’s family, becoming sons and daughters of His promises. I can’t word it any better than Galatians 4 v 4a and 5b: “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son … that we might receive adoption as sons.”

Two beautiful “Jesus” stories. Amen.

“A Real Life Mary and Joseph Story”- 2021

Friends of ours, Darrell and Cindy*, own a rental property. It’s not hobby real estate; the income it generates represents an important component of their finances.  Keeping the unit rented with reliable tenants is a priority. During one rental turnover, Darrell and Cindy were interviewing interested renters. There were several good prospects including some newlyweds who were acquaintances of the previous renters.

The young couple toured the unit and liked it but felt it was beyond their budget. They told Darrell and Cindy that they were expecting a baby and wanted to get a place on their own, but their income was limited. They also shared that their baby was diagnosed with a medical condition, likely resulting in additional expenses. Doctors were not optimistic.

Darrell and Cindy looked at other good applicants for the rental, but the growing little family stayed on their minds. They decided to pray about it and consider how a discounted rent would impact their income. Darrell admitted that turning the couple away seemed like telling Mary and Joseph there was no room in the inn! They came back to the couple and asked what rent amount would work for them. An agreement was reached, and they signed a lease. What a sweet miracle for the young couple in an exciting but uncertain time.

Darrell and Cindy prepped the unit and finalized the paperwork. Darrell spoke to the previous renters about returning their deposit. They were a bit surprised to find out about the money, since even as a budget-conscious couple, they had not realized the deposit was still due them. Aware of the situation of the new renters, they told Darrell to keep their security deposit and apply it as the new security deposit! Another unexpected little miracle! The new couple moved in, and their baby boy was born. He is healthy and growing with no immediate health issues, such a great miracle for his young parents.

This nativity is on display at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, DC.

Darrell and Cindy demonstrate how Christ followers live close to truths of the Bible. Being sensitive to known needs around us and meeting them in practical ways within our capacity is what Jesus told us to do (in many passages such as Luke 3:11). And as Darrell and Cindy would tell you, the blessing is all yours.

At Christmastime, we see the stable scene creches and sing of the lowly manger birth. On the night of Jesus’ birth, no rooms were available in Bethlehem, forcing Mary and Joseph to lodge outside. Later in His ministry Jesus charged, “you have no room for my word” (John 8:37). It is worth asking:  have you left Jesus out in the cold, or do you make room for Him in your heart and daily life? The best miracle is that He is at the door, knocking and asking to come in (Revelation 3:20).

*names are changed to maintain anonymity

One Christmas, Cindy gave me this book, a found treasure, if you know what I mean. She didn’t know that I had long admired the creche collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Although I visited New York city many times at Christmas, I never made it to the Nativity tree exhibit.

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ADVENTS – Should it be plural?

Like so many early seasonal promotions, I began seeing Advent calendars advertised months before Christmas.    Soap, puzzle, dog treat, and chocolate countdown calendars were among the ones I saw.  They are quite unlike the Advent calendars of my childhood.  In my young girlhood, my Nana sent us beautiful Nativity calendars featuring numbered windows.   My sisters and I took turns opening each day’s window to find an illustrated creche figure.  Window 24 always opened to the stable scene of baby Jesus in the manger.

Beautiful sanctuary decorations for Advent.

Today is the first Sunday of Advent, a season of the days or the Sundays leading up to Christmas.  It is a countdown to Jesus’s birthday.  Worship services may focus on the traditional themes of the four Sundays of Advent.   Pastors often prepare sermon series based on Christmas topics.  Many of us read Christmas devotionals throughout December and return to the narratives of Jesus’ birth in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke.  It is good to prepare for Christmas in these ways.  The countdown is exciting!

Advent means coming; we suppose anticipation.   We think of Jesus and His birth as arriving soon, but Jesus already arrived on earth some two thousand years ago on the first Christmas.  Advent, then, is a misnomer, unless something else is coming, to anticipate.  Yes, there is:  Jesus is coming again!  Jesus’ return is an Advent.  You may not know this fact and may not understand.   And Christians over time have not completely agreed on the exact details surrounding Jesus’ return, but all agree that He is returning, as declared in Scripture.  Jesus spoke about His own return in Matthew 24 and Luke 21 and writings in both the Old and New Testament further explain Jesus’ Second Coming.

May your December anticipate the 25th and another miraculous day yet to come!

(www.gotquestions.org is a reliable resource for topics such as Jesus’ return)

Miracles in a Modern Mary and Joseph Story

Friends of ours, Darrell and Cindy*, own a rental property. It’s not hobby real estate; the income it generates represents an important component of their finances.  Keeping the unit rented with reliable tenants is a priority. During one rental turnover, Darrell and Cindy were interviewing interested renters. There were several good prospects including some newlyweds who were acquaintances of the previous renters.

The young couple toured the unit and liked it but felt it was beyond their budget. They told Darrell and Cindy that they were expecting a baby and wanted to get a place on their own, but their income was limited. They also shared that their baby was diagnosed with a medical condition, likely resulting in additional expenses. Doctors were not optimistic.

Darrell and Cindy looked at other good applicants for the rental, but the growing little family stayed on their minds. They decided to pray about it and consider how a discounted rent would impact their income. Darrell admitted that turning the couple away seemed like telling Mary and Joseph there was no room in the inn! They came back to the couple and asked what rent amount would work for them. An agreement was reached, and they signed a lease. What a sweet miracle for the young couple in an exciting but uncertain time.

Darrell and Cindy prepped the unit and finalized the paperwork. Darrell spoke to the previous renters about returning their deposit. They were a bit surprised to find out about the money, since even as a budget-conscious couple, they had not realized the deposit was still due them. Aware of the situation of the new renters, they told Darrell to keep their security deposit and apply it as the new security deposit! Another unexpected little miracle! The new couple moved in, and their baby boy was born. He is healthy and growing with no immediate health issues, such a great miracle for his young parents.

Darrell and Cindy demonstrate how Christ followers live close to truths of the Bible. Being sensitive to known needs around us and meeting them in practical ways within our capacity is what Jesus told us to do (in many passages such as Luke 3:11). And as Darrell and Cindy would tell you, the blessing is all yours.

This Nativity is on display at the Bible Museum in Washington, DC.

At Christmastime, we see the stable scene creches and sing of the lowly manger birth. On the night of Jesus’ birth, no rooms were available in Bethlehem, forcing Mary and Joseph to lodge outside. Later in His ministry Jesus charged, “you have no room for my word” (John 8:37). It is worth asking:  have you left Jesus out in the cold, or do you make room for Him in your heart and daily life? The best miracle is that He is at the door, knocking and asking to come in (Revelation 3:20).

*names are changed to maintain anonymity

One Christmas, Cindy gave me this book, a found treasure, if you know what I mean. She didn’t know that I had long admired the creche collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Although I visited New York city many times at Christmas, I never made it to the Nativity tree exhibit.

A Christmas Alphabet

I enjoyed alphabet books as an ESOL teacher because of the patterned style and vocabulary emphasis.  This alphabet poem aims to include the significant details and themes of the story of Christmas as found in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke.  With a grandchild in our family now, I was inspired to write a Biblical Christmas piece.  I hope you or a young one in your family will enjoy its cadence and message.

A is for Advent

A blessed time of year

When Jesus’ birthday

Is coming near.

 

B is for baby,

So sweet and so small.

Jesus who saves us

Was born for us all.

 

C is for Christmas

And Christ is His name.

God’s Son from heaven

To our Earth He came.

 

D is for dream,

Or visions God sent:

News and direction,

His perfect intent.

 

E is for excited

And jumping for joy,

Like John leapt for Jesus,

The cousins, both boys.

 

F is for fear.

So many had fear.

Surprise angel visits said,

“Peace, God is near!”

 

G is for go,

Go tell the Good News

That Jesus is born.

Go, run in your shoes!

 

H is for heavenly,

Heavenly host.

Those angels praised Jesus,

The best and the most.

 

I is for incense,

With myrrh and with gold.

Wise men gave gifts

To Jesus we’re told.

 

J is for Joseph

The dad Jesus knew,

A man good and faithful.

He raised Jesus too.

 

K is for King,

From King David’s line,

Both father and mother,

A promise divine.

 

L is for light

Of so many kinds.

The angels, the East star,

The world’s Light who shines.

 

M is for Mary

The Lord Jesus’ mother.

God chose her to bear Him,

Her heart above others.

 

N is for Nativity

The plain stable scene,

The place and the people

Of such lowly means.

 

O is for only,

God’s only Son,

Jesus our Savior

For us, He’s the one!

 

P is for promise.

God’s prophecy said

A saving Messiah

Would come crush sin’s head.

 

Q is for quick.

Things happen so fast.

Be ready for Jesus

Before time is passed.

 

R is for room,

The Inn had no room

So a family was left

Out in Bethlehem’s gloom.

 

S is for sheep

Sleeping out in the night

Who woke with their shepherds

To angel singing and light.

 

T is for temple.

Jesus visited there

From baby to manhood

To teach and for prayer.

 

U is for upright,

In righteous ways

Zechariah, Simeon, Anna

Lived out their days.

 

V is for virgin,

A young girl named Mary,

The mother of Jesus,

A miracle she carried.

 

W is for worship,

Give Christ the praise

As babe in a manger

And now and always.

 

X is for exceptional,

Exceptional but true.

Jesus’ birth, boyhood, grown-up,

His Resurrection too!

 

Y is for why,

Why God sent His Son.

To save us from sin,

The cross – it is done!

 

Z is for Z

We’ve come to the end.

The Alpha Omega

Forever AMEN!

Decorations are simple this year as we live in transition until our new house is done: greens from our new yard, local Spanish moss, and a creche I managed to bring.

Written by My Father

This summer, while sorting through papers with my parents, we came across a short devotional written by my father. It was published in a devotional periodical but inquiries to both Our Daily Bread and Guideposts confirmed that it was not their publications. Since we have the original page with a date, we know the piece appeared somewhere, yet I couldn’t determine its source.

As you may know from my blog bio, my father had a career in journalism, launching with a wire news service, then joining the staff of the newly founded Christianity Today, and eventually becoming the editor of Christian Herald magazine. His writing featured current events and issues mostly within the Protestant church, including magazine editorials. His style usually wasn’t homiletic, so the short piece quoted below is unique. I don’t know if the prayer and Thought for the Day were my dad’s or added by an editor.

Wednesday, December 1, 1976

Read John 1:43-51

Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? John 1:46

My wife and I were charmed by a visit to the village of Oberndorf, Austria. It was there that Joseph Mohr and Franz Gruber first introduced what has come to be the world’s best-loved Christmas carol, “Silent Night.” The church organ was broken, so a guitar was used for accompaniment at the Christmas Eve Mass.

That was in 1818 when communications were such that the song could not be readily shared with the world. Yet it not only found its way out of that obscure place, but became the most renowned of all Christmas songs.

Jesus Himself came out of what from every worldly standard would be considered obscurity. God actually ordained that His Son take on humanity in that way, and then suffer an ignominious death so that all who trust Him might have forgiveness of sin.

Doesn’t this tell those of us who have trusted Him as Savior something important about our work for the Lord? Everything we do, no matter how humble the context, has a great potential if we do it well – as God ordained.

PRAYER: O God, help us to keep in mind that the quality of performance is so much more important that what we deem to be ideal circumstances. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Thought for the Day

The most humble became the most famous.

David E. Kucharsky (Arlington, Virginia)

I hesitate to add much commentary to this piece; his words speak for themselves. As he says, he always valued doing quality work, and that included work that was service, things done for Christ’s sake. Even recently my dad spoke to me about continuing to be useful and cognizant of what ministry God would have for him in this stage of his life. This Scripture was not quoted but it fits his intent: 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV).

An epilogue to the fame of “Silent Night” is an event from World War I. During the war, an unofficial truce occurred on Christmas Eve 1914. That night enemy soldiers joined in singing “Silent Night.” The movie “Joyeux Noel” (2005) retells the story.   The humble carol, composed because of an obscure church crisis, holds a world stage.

Some vintage piano sheet music similar to what I played as a child.

Speak Your Truth, Really?

This fall I attended an all-day workshop for teachers. As is often the case, one of the first slides of the PowerPoint displayed the norms for the day. One expectation out of the fairly short list stated “Speak your truth.” That jolted me awake! As educators, I expected a better understanding of the English language!

Truth is something that is veritable in all situations. Truth is not dependent on circumstances or personality. Truth stays the same; is absolute. I am not a grammar expert but putting the possessive pronoun “your” before “truth” is an oxymoron, a faux pas or just plain poor writing. Pairing “your” with “truth” suggests that a colleague’s truth could be different than my truth. If that is the case, that there are multiple versions of truth, then the topic is no longer truth but experiences, feelings or opinions.

Sadly, the presenters didn’t miscommunicate their intentions. They, like many, believe that truth is relative and that kindness, respect and peace are best achieved by accepting all ideas equally. Nothing in the workshop was particularly controversial. Conflict was unlikely during the training but expecting tolerance is admirable and may be necessary in this day and age, especially in a region that is extremely diverse. Of course every participant’s contributions are valued! Unfortunately, the presenters missed the point by misusing the term ‘truth.’

As we come to the end of the Christmas season and look ahead to the New Year, we can reflect on Jesus’ words about his own coming to Earth. To his interrogator Pilate Jesus said, “In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth.” (John 18:37) Jesus was born as a baby, leaving behind His heavenly privilege, so we could experience truth. Jesus spoke the truth and He talked about true things and unchanging principles. He even called Himself truth when He said, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” (John 14:6)

Christmas cards artfully portray Jesus and His various names. Christmas carols include His names too. He is called Prince of Peace, Light of the World, and Lamb of God, to list just a few. Each of these names and His many others represent something true about Jesus the Savior, the Son of God. May you be greatly encouraged that Jesus’ birth and purpose are true and real; may you not fall prey to believing that there is any other Truth.

There is a funny story about this photo. I saw this nativity scene in a nursing home, while visiting a family member. On our first visit, the manger was empty with no baby Jesus. I joked with someone that possibly one of the residents had picked up the baby Jesus; some of them like to carry doll babies and often mistakenly take things. It turns out that the Catholic tradition is to leave the manger empty until Christmas Day. Happily, baby Jesus arrived on Christmas!

Music Makes Merry

A couple of Christmases ago, my husband and I found ourselves in a “bah humbug” mood one December weekend. I don’t recall anything that was particularly wrong, but somehow, maybe from loneliness or fatigue, we lacked Christmas joy. That Sunday afternoon I got a call from a long-time friend saying she had just received four tickets to a Michael W. Smith concert that night. She wondered if we would like to go with them. My husband and I conferred; I decided to go to the concert with them and he preferred to stay home to rest.

I had known about the well-advertised show.   It was being held at a large university arena nearby. The concert featured Amy Grant as well, so the program promised to be an evening of good oldies among great seasonal pieces. My friends picked me up and we took the short drive together. Our friendship goes back almost three decades but now we don’t see each other regularly. We always have a lot of family news to catch up on.

Vinyl records are popular again. This is my 1980’s original.

Michael W. Smith performs energetic and uplifting shows. He is down to earth and radiates authentic Christian faith. I pretend to know him because he married a friend I knew in college, but of course that’s wishful thinking! With his music colleague Amy Grant on stage too, the duo definitely presented a blast from the past. Most of the audience, including me, relived memorable songs from the 80’s. At intermission when the lights came up, my friends recognized some folks sitting right in front of us. The mother and daughter had known my friends from a time when both of their daughters went through cancer treatment. My friend wept as she reconnected with them. One can only imagine the deep bonds formed through that shared experience.

The concert celebrated the fun and focus of Christmas. The friendship on the stage mirrored the closeness of us listening in the audience. My soul responded as the Christmas songs and message ministered to my sagging spirits. Our friends came inside for a bit as they dropped me off at home. My husband had changed into his bedtime flannels but the four of us hung out together in the kitchen, recapping life. Somehow serenity had descended on us and on our home that night.

I experienced something similar earlier that fall. After a horribly oppressive all-day work meeting, I was scheduled to attend a concert in the evening. Though depleted of energy, I was committed to going with an acquaintance. I didn’t know much about the group performing that night either. I showed up out of obligation. But then “Big Daddy Weave” hit the stage and I sat up! They were large and loud! Eventually I recognized a few songs and could clap and hum along. The lead vocal belted out their story and His (Jesus’) Story with wonderful candor and love. As the evening progressed, my body and mind steadily revived. And in that concert too I ran into a childhood friend who I rarely see.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TKAN-nAsu8

Music blesses and renews us. Christmas music is a special genre but all music, and especially music based on Truth, touches our hearts and the world powerfully. The Message Bible paraphrases a passage about music this way:

Sing to God a brand-new song.
He’s made a world of wonders!

Shout your praises to God, everybody!
Let loose and sing! Strike up the band!

Round up an orchestra to play for God,
Add on a hundred-voice choir.

Feature trumpets and big trombones,
Fill the air with praises to King God.

Let the sea and its fish give a round of applause,
With everything living on earth joining in.

Let ocean breakers call out, “Encore!”
And mountains harmonize the finale— Psalm 98: 1, 4-8

Royal Watching

For my generation, Charles and Diana’s was the wedding of the century.

I admit to being a royal watcher. It may be partly due to my Canadian heritage (Canadians remain loyal to the Crown) or just that little girl princess dream.  I love the royal wedding spectacles, the births and christenings, the outfits (but the hats?), and maybe someday, we’ll have a coronation!

Royalty is significant. For most royals, there is excessive wealth complete with lavish lifestyles, palaces and estates, and priceless jewels.  There is royal protocol with unique privileges.  There is popularity, or banishment.  We use expressions like “royal treatment” and “fit for a queen.”

Queen Elizabeth’s annual Christmas address will be aired at 3 pm on Christmas Day in the United Kingdom. The royal family traditionally spends Christmas at their country estate, Sandringham House.  They attend Christmas Day worship services at St. Mary Magdalene, a nearby church dating back to the 1600’s. The Brits await these two events to mark the start of their own celebrations.

Queen Elizabeth followed by Prince Philip at Christmas services in 2015.

 

It is the Eve of a royal birth! Jesus was and is a royal.  His birth was announced centuries before his arrival. An angel chorus and a brilliant star broadcast his birth.  Locals and royalty paid tribute to him as a newborn and in the months following.  His version of a christening led the temple staff to break out in holy salutations and consecrated blessings.  Jesus is here and we should be thrilled and amazed.

I’ve been pondering royal preparation. Royal events are spectacles, full of pomp and glory.  No detail is left undone and protocol reigns.  This is also true for American presidents and the White House.  The Bible says a lot about preparing for King Jesus.  The prophet Isaiah wrote of the coming Prince of Peace and preparing the way for Him.  That preparation referred to road improvements that preceded the passing of a royal entourage.  The Old Testament also foretold of a messenger that would herald the King’s arrival.  Jesus confirmed that John the Baptist was that herald, preparing the crowds for Himself.

So how prepared am I for the coming royal? Advent is a season of anticipation and preparation.  I’ve prepared many things lately but most of it, honestly, has been the trappings of Christmas.  It’s time to “prepare Him room in my heart,” as the carol goes.  At Christmas, I want to be star-gazed for a glimpse of the King:  the world’s greatest royal who gave away all His privilege for my sake, and yours.

Footnote: These Scriptures were referred to:  Isaiah 9:6-7; Isaiah 40:3-4; Malachi 3:1; Luke 2; Matthew 11:10 and Luke 7:27.