Good News of Great Joy

 There is nothing quite like the look on the face of a child who opens a gift he has been longing for. One favorite family story that is retold nearly every Christmas happened when my brother-in-law was just a tike. After opening a special present this little boy shouted out, "Just what me always wanted!"

The eyes of children seem to hold special magic at Christmas. The excitement they feel can't be contained. It spills over into bouncing and jumping and hugging. There is true joy. Though there is joy in getting something you love, there is even greater joy in finding that perfect gift that you know is just right. 

Christmas joy is the cooing and smiles of a baby resting in your arms. Christmas joy flows on the face of a grandparent when the family gathers together. There is Christmas joy when that independent college-aged son or daughter comes home for holiday break. It is receiving a card from a friend you haven't heard from in a few years.

"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," (Luke 2:10-12 NIV).

This Christmas, the words of the song, "Mary Did You Know" have really touched my heart. The song as performed by Pentatonix is especially beautiful.

"Mary, did you know that your baby boy would one day walk on water? Mary, did you know that your baby boy would save our sons and daughters? Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new? This child that you delivered, will soon deliver you?

Mary, did you know that your baby boy would give sight to a blind man? Mary, did you know that your baby boy would calm the storm with his hand? Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod? When you kiss your little baby, you kiss the face of God?

Mary, did you know that your baby boy would give sight to a blind man? Mary, did you know that your baby boy would calm the storm with his hand? Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod? When you kiss your little baby, you kiss the face of God?

The blind will see, the deaf will hear, the dead will live again. The lame will leap, the dumb will speak, the praises of the lamb (Lamb) Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?

Mary did you know that your baby boy would one day rule the nations? Did you know that your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb? That sleeping child you're holding is the great I am?"

Oh, God, thank You for creating the beautiful Christmas story that we share again and again, generation to generation. Thank You for sending Your Son to earth as a baby that changed the trajectory of the sinful world. Heavenly Father, the joy of the birth of Your Son fills our hearts this Christmas and every Christmas. Your gift to us shows Your Great Love for us all. We pray in the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Anticipation of Joy

It is hard to wait, especially when you are little. When our boys were young we had an advent calendar for them. They could open a new door each day to help count down the days until Christmas. We also had a hanging with buttons tied to a ribbon with yarn. They could remove a button every day beginning December first and when they were gone, it was Christmas Day. Another year my mother prepared little packages given on the days before Christmas to make the waiting a little easier for the boys.

Even as adults, we often find our expectations inflating with each approaching day. We hope for the perfect Christmas and often rush around trying to do more: bake more, send more Christmas cards, buy more gifts, clean more throughly... so everything will be just right when the anticipated day arrives.

Instead of trying to make all the "things" better, we can fill our hearts with joy by anticipating the arrival of our Savior! That is true joy. As with the arrival of any baby, there is such overwhelming joy! I can't even imagine the joy of Mary as she looked upon her Holy baby, the Son of God, in physical form.

""Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of Most High," (Luke 1:28-32a NIV).

I wonder if the angel's words came back to Mary as she rested, after giving birth to the Kingly Child. Anticipation of the life of a Savior was before her. 

The author of Hebrews described Jesus as the, "Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven," (Hebrews 1:3 NIV).

Lord God, we bow down in humble adoration of Your Son Jesus. We know the story of His life, yet we enjoy remembering the way you brought Jesus into the world. We pause to anticipate the joy of the Coming Savior. Thank You, God, for sending Your Only Son to bring Salvation to a sinful world. We pray in the Holy Name of Jesus, Amen.

Come, Emmanuel

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appears.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

(Latin hymn translated by John M. Neale, 1851,  Thomas Helmore, 1854.) Based on one of the earliest forms of music known - the Chant or Plain Song.

This beautiful hymn calls us to remember the meaning of the Christmas season...the arrival of Jesus' first coming and expectation of Christ's second coming still ahead. Rejoice! We can sing these words over and over during the Advent season. 

At our house, the Christmas decorations are mostly in place now. It is kind of a hodgepodge of things collected over the past 52 years. Somewhere along the way, I gathered several creches and three of them are on display. My decorations aren't something you would see in "House Beautiful," rather they are meaningful only to me. There is a lot of blue because I love that color: blue lights on the tree, blue bows on the light fixtures next to the fireplace, a blue scarf on a pudgy little snowman, (made by granddaughter Piper years ago), and a blue tablecloth. 

The creches are the focal point of Christmas for me. I hope to remind anyone who comes, that Jesus is number one in my Christmas.

"In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you," (Luke 1:26-28 NIV).

Heavenly Father God, Thank You for this season of preparation for the birth of Your Son, and His arrival as a human baby on this earth- that You alone created. Thank You for the Christmas lights that remind us of  Jesus' arrival as Emmanuel, the Light of the World. Thank You for sending Him to be born a baby in Bethlehem, as foretold hundreds of years before. We Rejoice! Amen.

We give God the Glory. 

Our Hope is Light

The turkey is cooked and nearly gone. The wreaths of gold and brown have been taken down and replaced with red and green. The outdoor lights are glowing and the artificial Christmas trees are up and decorated. The flurry of Black Friday is replaced by Cyber Monday. Calendars have turned to December. The nativity scenes are in place and the lawns (in Iowa, at least) are coated with a plentiful blanket of snow. It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas.  Or not.

Christmas can be a difficult season. I think of those who have lost a loved one since last Christmas, especially. The "firsts" are hard. It is challenging to see everyone else in such a joyful mood when inside your heart is breaking. 

"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel," (Isaiah 7:14 NIV).  

God's promise is hope. 

"The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned," (Isaiah 9:2 NIV).

Hundreds of years before the birth of Christ, Isaiah proclaimed hope was coming. A virgin will conceive! A Son will be born, coming in the physical presence of baby Jesus. A child will be our Deliverer. The Messiah. Immanuel.

Mighty God, we enter this season with hope. Even when our hearts are breaking, we see Your Light coming. We have hope. Fill us with Your Great Light and lift our spirits as we anticipate the coming of baby Jesus, once again. Remind us of what is truly important this Christmas: Your Son. We pray in Jesus' Name, Amen.