Epiphany

Epiphany: the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles as represented by the Magi; the baptism of Christ, signifying to humanity the manifestation of the Son of God. Epiphany comes from the Greek word meaning appearance or manifestation.

I had to look up the meaning of Epiphany so I could be sure I knew what I was talking about. Today is Epiphany - January 6. It is a wonderful day for celebrating that Jesus came to earth as a human to teach us about God's love and to save us from our sins. 

Jesus came to this earth as a baby and at some point in His life He became our Savior, our Shepherd, our King. That's Epiphany.

"At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased." (Mark 1:9-11 NIV).

Dear Lord and Father of all mankind: be with us this day of rejoicing the manifestation of Christ, the Son of God. Our hearts are filled with thanksgiving as we worship You with praise and glorify Your Holy Name.  Thank You for sending Your Son to teach us how to live with love for others. Help us follow You more closely in all that we do. We want to walk with You each step that we take. We praise You for Your Son and we pray in Jesus' Name, Amen.

What's Your Way in 2025?

2025. The year is just beginning. A blank page in a journal of life. We've turned the page and only opportunity lies before us. How will we use the days ahead? Some people choose a word for their year. Do you have a word for 2025? I haven't chosen one but I like the concept of setting a goal and working toward it everyday. 

Lots of people start an exercise program in the new year (might I suggest Legacy Fitness) or start a weight loss program (might I recommend WW (Weight Watchers)). Both are great places to set a goal and to keep it going. However, many people drop out after a few months. To reach a goal we have to stick with it.

Another great goal is to read Scripture everyday in order to read the Bible through in a year. There are a number of programs that have what to read all figured out that we can follow. There are even special Bibles for reading it through in a year.

Do we have a dream in our head that has been dormant for a long time, just waiting to be realized? We can start working toward it one day at a time. Making our goal to bring glory to God gives it a purpose. 

I love these quotes by Mark Batterson in "Win The Day". "Show me the size of your dream and I'll show you the size of your God." He also said, "If we do the right thing day in and day out, God is going to show up and show off."

But aren't I too old to have a dream? For more than 20 years, my dream was to get a college education. I finally achieved that goal when I was 43. It is never too late to start working toward a dream. If we walk with God, He will guide us around the stumbling blocks. 

"For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones," (Proverbs 2:6-8 NIV).

Thank You, God, for being our refuge and strength, for leading us along the pathway of life. Sometimes we may feel discouraged but if we take Your hand, You will guide us. You will help us climb the steep hills of our life and show us rewards at the end. Thank You for sending Your Son to save us from our sins. We place our trust and hope in Him. Show us the way, Lord; show us the way. We pray in the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Treasures Given

Joy to the World pillow quilted by my
daughter-in-law Laura Stewart, a treasure to cherish.

Last summer my daughter-in-law Laura and some of the granddaughters walked through the Iowa State Fair. One of our usual stops was the Fabric and Threads: Quilting exhibit. We always find a few projects that overwhelm us.

The pillow shown is Laura's duplication of a quilted scene we saw on display. Her version includes stars that light and shine. The detail is incredible. The white strips of border include the words to the Christmas carol, "Joy to the World." The quilting in the background features stars in a variety of shapes, and on the blue borders are landscapes of the city of Bethlehem. I am so humbled by this laborious gift from Laura, Brady and his family.

"After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east 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 and of incense and of myrrh. And having been warned in a dream, not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route," (Matthew 2:9-12 NIV). 

Heavenly Father above, We come to You in worship and praise this morning as we remember the carol, Joy to the World. Our hearts are filled with joy in the arrival of King Jesus on earth. Thank You for sending Your Son to us so we can follow Him all of our days.  We will always treasure the gift of Your Son, and we pray in His Holy Name, Amen.

One More Christmas Carol

For as long as I can remember the closing song of our Christmas Eve services (at several different churches) was "Silent Night! Holy Night!" I think it must be the most beloved Christmas carol ever sung. And it all came about because of a broken organ.

Joseph Mohr, a priest in the high Alps Church of St. Nicholas, and the church organist, Franz Gruber, were desperate for music for their Christmas Eve mass. Father Mohr wrote the words and Gruber said, "Friend Mohr, you have fount it--the right song--God be praised!" He immediately began composing the music to go with the words of "Silent Night! Holy Night!" On Christmas Eve in 1818, the two friends sang the new carol for their parishioners with Gruber playing his guitar. 

"Silent Night! Holy Night! All is calm, all is bright 'Round yon virgin mother and Child, Holy Infant so tender and mild, Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace. Silent Night! Holy Night! Shepherds quake at the sight, Glories stream from heaven a far, Heav'nly hosts sing Alleluia; Christ the Savior is born, Christ the Savior is born. Silent Night! Holy Night! Son of God, love's pure light, Radiant beams from Thy holy face, With the dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth, Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth. Amen". (Joseph Mohr, 1818, Franz Gruber, 1818).

"So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told," (Luke 2:16-20 NIV).

Oh, Mighty God, Giver of Thy Holy Son, our hearts are full of the glory of the gift of Your Holy Son. We rejoice that You gave us Your beloved Son, to save us from our sins. Lord, keep our hearts filled with the joy and the blessing of King Emmanuel, Jesus Lord at Thy birth. Help us to share this message with others whom we encounter. We praise You and worship You. Amen.

Kneeling In the Stable

"What Do I Want For Christmas?"

by Ann Weems, "Kneeling in Bethlehem"

"What do I want for Christmas?

I want to kneel in Bethlehem,

the air thick with alleluias, the angels singing

that God is born among us. 

In the light of the Star,

I want to see them come, 

the wise ones and the humble.

I want to see them come

bearing whatever they treasure

to lay at the feet of him who gives his life.

What do I want for Christmas?

To see in that stable

the whole world kneeling in thanks

for a promise kept: new life.

For in his nativity

we find ours." 

For as long as I can remember "Away in a Manger" has been sung by the children during the annual Christmas program. When I was a child, I remember my knees knocking in front of the full church as I whisper-sang the words I'd been taught. Every year after we sang it again and again. When I was a young mother I taught it to my boys. When I taught Sunday school and helped with the Christmas program, "Away in a Manger" was always sung by the youngest children. Actions were often added, also.

I remember a time when I didn't like to sing the song because I felt it was too childish. Then as I aged, "Away in a Manger" became beloved once again. How could 65+ years of "Away in a Manger" be discarded as immature? The "children's carol" or "Cradle Song" was written in 1885 by a source unknown. The third stanza was credited to Dr. John Thomas McFarland who added the line for a children's program in the early 1900's.

 Sing along as you read the familiar words to "Away in a Manger."

"Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head; The stars in the bright sky looked down where He lay, The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay. The cattle are lowing, the Baby awakes, But little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes. I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky, And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh. Be near me, Lord Jesus; I ask Thee to stay Close by me forever, and love me, I pray. Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care, And fit us for heaven, to live with Thee there."

 "While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." (Luke 2:6-7 NIV).

O Gracious and Loving God, we lift our arms in praise for the gift of Your Son, Jesus. Awaken us to the true meaning of Christmas as we celebrate the birth of Lord Jesus. Help us keep our focus in the stable and remembering what we truly want this Christmas. With eternal thankfulness, we pray, Amen.

Glory to the Newborn King!

 Can you imagine the arrival of the angels on the night Jesus was born? I love the picture the following scripture paints for us.

"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."" (Luke 2:8-14 NIV).

One of the most popular Christmas carols is "Hark! the Herald Angels Sing", written by Charles Wesley in 1739. The melody is by composer Felix Mendelssohn in 1840. Wesley wrote more than 6,500 hymns. Besides telling the story of angels, the carol describes Christ's honor and deity and concludes with a prayer giving us second birth.

Sing along as we remember these familiar words of praise and honor to our Savior, born in Bethlehem.

"Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King: Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!" Joyful, all ye nations, rise, Join the triumph of the skies; With th'angelic host proclaim, "Christ is born in Bethlehem!" Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory top the newborn King."  Christ, by highest heaven adored; Christ, the everlasting Lord! Late in time behold Him come, Offspring of the Virgin's womb" Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; Hail t'incarnate Deity, Pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel. Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King."  Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness! Light and life to all He brings, Ris'n with healing in His wings. Mild He lays His glory by, Born that man no more may die, Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth. Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King."

Oh, Gracious God: we look up and imagine the glory of Your angels as the shepherds saw that quiet night. Fill us with that same awe and wonder as we walk through these last few days before Christmas. Close our eyes to the busy-ness of the season and let us pause and rejoice with the angels! Fill our hearts with Your gift of the Savior and the thankfulness we feel. Let us experience the Glory of the angels once again. We pray in Jesus' Holy Name, Amen.

Remembering the Holy Birth

Do you remember when your first child was born? Or perhaps your first niece or nephew? Or your first grandchild? The birth of a baby is such a big reason to celebrate. But the first child is so new. Everything you do is a first: the first bath; the first, second, third, fourth... diaper change; the first feeding; the first time in the crib; the first car ride home; the first time holding a new baby; nearly all of the firsts are worth recording in a baby book.

Imagine Mary and Joseph as they walked/rode the final mile of their trip to Bethlehem. They must have been exhausted and dirty and thirsty. Yet, they had no time to choose a leisurely bath, God's Holy child was about to be born! So they quickly accepted use of the inn keeper's stable: the place for the baby Son of God to be born. 

"O Come, All Ye Faithful" was an old Latin hymn, attributed to John F. Wade in 1751 as Cantus Diversi. The words of this hymn are familiar to many who sing Christmas carols. "O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem! Come and behold Him, born the King of angels; O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord. Amen."

"So Joseph went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn," (Luke 2:4-7 NIV).

I wish I'd known what I know now, when our boys were born. But, I was young and easily influenced by the world where nursing your child was not popular. Our first son was colicky and my doctor was unsympathetic. He grew up with asthma and allergies. Five years later, it was more of a trend to breast feed and I was determined. Our second son was healthy and happy.

Dear God, we are excited for our Christmas celebrations, welcoming baby Jesus. We sing, "O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord." Help us to focus on Your Son and the mercy He brought us. Guide our hearts in worship and praise as we remember Jesus, Immanuel, born in Bethlehem, and His perfect life here on earth where He taught us to love others. We remember Jesus' sacrifice on the cross for us to have salvation. We thank You, God.  Amen.