GETTING READY

In a few days, we will take down the 2018 calendar and put up the 2019 one.  I have my 2019 pocket calendar started with birthdays, appointments, scheduled activities and vacations entered.  2019 is full of my plans.  January, February and March have a lot of entries and then things slow down.  I am sure the other months will fill up with doctor appointments, meetings, time with friends and family and days with nothing special to do.

Am I ready for 2019?  Yes! 

“Are you really ready Mary?”

Oh no.  God was listening.

“I like to listen to you, especially when you make funny comments like you are ready for 2019.”

Funny?  I am ready for 2019!  I have calendars with my plans written down and can handle what comes --- with your help, of course.

“I always get a chuckle when my children mention their plans.  I do have a question.  What are you leaving behind and what are you taking with you into this new year?”

Leaving behind?  Taking with me?  Hum…. 2018 was a bit of a challenge so I will leave behind frustration and resentment, but during the challenges I made some new friends, so I will take them with me.  I also learned how to research and dig for the truth, so I will take the ability to learn with me.

“Keep going.”

Well ….. I know.  Impatience.  I am not always the most patient person.  In 2019, I will work on being more understanding when people do not want to do it my way.  But honestly, if they would only listen….

“They should listen like you listen to my plan and, you have to admit, my plan is better than yours.”

So it wasn’t the part about being ready you thought was funny, it was the part about it being my plan?

“Bingo.  Maybe you would like to try and answer my question again.  What are you leaving behind and what are you taking with you into this new year?”

I am leaving behind my plan and taking your plan into 2019.  But how do I do that?  I do not know your plan.

“Look up Proverbs 3:5-6.  And use the King James Version for this one.  Happy New Year my child.”

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

In all they ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct they paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6

&   &   &   &   &  &   &   &   &   &

I never make resolutions.  I know I will never keep them, but maybe it is time to try.  Maybe this time, I will make the right resolution.  Maybe I can keep this one. 

I will trust in my LORD with all my heart.

I will not do it my way.

I will recognize the authority of my LORD and allow him to lead me.

&   &   &   &   &  &   &   &   &   &

HAPPY NEW YEAR

A CHILD IS BORN

Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress.  In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan –

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.

You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder.

For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor.

Every Warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.

Isiah 9:1-5

I want to claim this Scripture!  I do not want to live in gloom or in distress.  I want a great light to shine so I no longer walk in darkness and no longer see the shadow of death.  I want a life of joy.  I want to rejoice.  I want my shoulders to be free of any yoke my sin has placed there.  I never want to see another soldier’s uniform become bloody.

This is what I want!  But how?

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 the Most High.  The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”

Luke 1:30-33

“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.”

Luke 2:10-11

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.  He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.  The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

Isiah 9:6-7

Wonderful Counselor.  Mighty God.  Everlasting Father.  Prince of Peace. 

This is what I want!  But how?  How?  That is easy.  God sent a baby.

A SAVIOR HAS BEEN BORN TO YOU; HE IS CHRIST THE LORD

And that is exactly what I want you to have from now into eternity. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS

THEY STUDIED, THEY FOLLOWED, THEY ARRIVED

THEY STUDIED

“I know I read that somewhere,” said Caspar, “but where?”

“Hurry and figure it out because the star is a sign,” Balthazar replied.  “Why did you not write it down?  How many times have we told you to take notes?”

“I take notes,” Melchior chimed in, trying to calm Balthazar down.  “The prophesy said ‘But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.’”

Looking at the map, they agreed.  The star had risen in the east, traveled west and did seem to stop over that area. 

“The caravan is ready.  Let us follow the star,” shouted Balthazar.

THEY FOLLOWED

The Magi had been following the star for many, many miles.  For many, many months.  They finally arrived in Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?  We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”

They were so close.  They even secretly talked to the king about the exact time the star had appeared.  The king confirmed they should go to Bethlehem. 

After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them

THEY ARRIVED

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.

The star stopped!  The journey was finally over.  The child… The child. 

THEY STUDIED, THEY FOLLOWED, THEY ARRIVED

There is very little known about the Magi.  The Bible leaves out all the details that are not important but I am going to use my imagination and picture it.

Think about the subject that caused you the most trouble.  Think how hard you had to study.  Think how one question led to another and another and another.  Now picture the Magi reading Micah 5:2-5 which led them to Numbers 24:17 which led to Genesis 49:10 which led to … Get the picture?  They studied!  They researched! 

The Magi went on a long trip.  They did not have GPS or suitcases on wheels.  These were Wise Men but I bet they did not know how to set up a tent and were clueless on the care of camels.  The Hallmark card might show three guys on camels but there would have been a tremendous support system.  Did the Magi know how much food to take along?  Did they know where there were watering holes for the camels?  Did they know good water from bad?  Did they know …?  The Magi knew where they were going but the picture on the Christmas card is far from accurate. 

They finally arrived at their destination but how did they know exactly?  Was there a straight line from the star to the house?  Did Mary hear all the noise as the Magi and their entourage coming down their street?  Did she take Jesus outside to watch?  They knew!  They saw the child and his mother and they knew! 

And that is exactly what I want you to do this week:  study, follow and arrive.

Study the verses about the Magi – the Wise Men – and picture them in your mind.  Are they in a big room with books piled high?  Are they looking in one book and then another?  Are they watching the sky?  How do they act when they find the direction they need?

Follow in the steps of the Wise Men.  They were seeking.  They were willing to follow a star.  Follow in the steps of the Wise Men as you seek to follow where God leads you.

Most importantly, you are to arrive.  You are to find the child.  A Savior, Christ the Lord.

There is very little known about the Magi.  What we can learn from them is that we are to study, to follow, and to arrive.

So go forth and be wise.  Find Christ.  But also know how to take care of your camel.

(Scriptures used Matthew 2:1-12 and Micah 5:2-5)

(Assumptions:  There were three Magi because there were three gifts and it is tradition they were named Casper, Melchior and Balthazar.)

THEY PRACTICE, THEY INFORM, THEY OBEY

THE ANGELS PRACTICE

The choir director said, “No.  No.  No.  How many times do we have to go over this?  It must be perfect.  It must be exactly as written!”

“It is not ‘Listen up.  I have something to tell you.’  The time is getting closer and you have a very important job,” she continued.  “Do I need to go talk with Archangel Michael?”

One angel replied, “Do not disturb him.  Besides he is a bit upset with me anyway.  Seems he did not appreciate the drum solo in the middle of prayers……May I try again?”

Fear not:  for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 

The choir director turned to the choir, “Then you will join in.  And remember, in unison, – you only have one chance to get it right.  This is our last practice.”

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

THE ANGELS INFORM

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 

Please remember this was a long before the countryside was covered with dusk-dawn lights.  The shepherds might have had a fire going and a couple of lamps but it would have been dark.  They would have been able to see the stars.  They might have been talking quietly or maybe the only sound was the sheep. 

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 

“What?  The light is so bright I cannot see where it is coming from.  The sheep….” shouted the frightened shepherds.

The choir director smiled when she heard, “Fear not:…...“  All that practice paid off.  The Angels nailed it!  The shepherds were no longer afraid and their job was completed.

THE SHEPHERDS OBEY

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven,

Dark, light, dark.  I bet their eyes were having trouble adjusting back to the darkness.  I would have loved to hear the conversation after the angels left. 

• Was I dreaming?
• Well, if you were dreaming, we all had the same dream.
• I have never seen a light like that.
• Well, duh!  It was the Glory of the Lord.  Nothing else can be that bright!
• What did you hear?

the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.  And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.  And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.  And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

THEY PRACTICE, THEY INFORM, THEY OBEY

Yes, I have a vivid imagination and, yes, I picture the angels practicing.  This night was important.  Everything was in place and the angels were ready.

The angels had a message to deliver.  A very specific message.  Not your usual birth announcement.  This baby was our SAVIOUR.  This baby was CHRIST THE LORD.  The pressure to make every word heard and understood was a big responsibility.

I often feel sorry for the shepherds.  There they were, doing their job, watching the sheep, eyes adjusted to the dark, when WHAM – well, no wonder they were scared.  They probably thought they were going to die.  How would an angel’s voice sound?  Could they comprehend what they heard?   

fear not.. good tidings…great joy…to all people

And that is exactly what I want you to do this week:  comprehend those words.

This week enjoy the preparation of Christmas but take time to be a shepherd.  Go to a dark room, sit there, think about your sheep (those you care about), listen for their voices, and allow your eyes to adjust to the dark.  Then turn the lights on.  WHAM!  Your eyes – your whole being – will be out of whack.  Your brain has to regroup. 

Multiply that feeling by a lot because there were angels involved.  Then hear the words fear not.  Take a deep breath.  Let it out.  Ready?

Place yourself in that field, surrounded by a light like you have never seen before.  Brighter than the lights at the Super Bowl. 

Here is the exciting part.  It is time to open the door and realize what just happened. 

The good tidings are for YOU!

The great joy is for YOU!

The Saviour born that day in the city of David, which is Christ the Lord, was born for YOU!

This birth was for you.  And me.  And them.  And her.  And him.  And all people. 

Now be a good shepherd and go tell someone.

(Scriptures taken from Luke 2:8-18)