ROAD TRIP -- FOLLOW THAT STAR

SCRIPTURE: MATTHEW 2:1-11 (KJV)

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem. Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Judaea, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.

ROAD TRIP -- FOLLOW THAT STAR

Wonder if that STAR could be considered the first GPS? Wonder if the Wise Men would have felt more comfortable if they had an iPad to show them exactly where they were and where they were going?

This week I want you to think about the Wise Men. Picture them studying the Scriptures and books on astrology. Picture them bent over maps of the heavens and circling constellations. Picture them saying --“There it is!”

“Road trip! Are you in? Are you going? I wonder how long it will take. What gifts should we offer? Will we need back up camels? Do we know if there are any camel stations along the way?”

Okay - It does sound a bit silly, but there are so many questions about the Wise Men that are not answered. Which one first searched the Scriptures? Which one tried to use the stars to figure out a location? Which one saw the star first?

I do believe the Wise Men could give a very interesting Travelogue on their journey.

AND NOW

The answers to these questions really do not matter. The importing thing is that they searched. They searched and then they went. They searched, they went and then they honored Jesus with gifts.

Take time to talk to Jesus. Tell him about how your search.

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MERRY CHRISTMAS

MAY YOUR CHRISTMAS BE A BLESSED DAY

HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO SLEEP WITH ALL THE NOISE?

The last two weeks I have asked you to think about how Mary felt. About how Joseph felt. Did you find that easy? This week, I want you to try again. The scene: It is very dark.

Did you figure out that you are a shepherd?

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. Luke 2:8 (KJV)

It is time to get into character. The day has been very long. The sheep have finally quieted. Luckily this is not your night to keep watch and you are ready to sleep. First you lay on your right side, but there is a rock hitting your knee. Then you try your left side, but that is not much better. The ground is hard! Plus the shepherd next to you is snoring to beat the band.

Finally, you are comfortable. The snoring stops. All is quiet. Your eyes are heavy and --

SCRIPTURE: LUKE 2:9-14 (KJV)

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.

And the angel said unto them, 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.

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.

AND NOW

Well, that was interesting! Can you picture the shepherd shaking his head and saying, “How am I supposed to sleep with all that noise? And the shepherds in the next county would be able to see that light. Of course, there is no going back to sleep now.”

Can you see the shepherds forming a committee to see if they should go check out what they had just been told? Did they take a vote? Were there some that just wanted to go back to sleep?

SCRIPTURE: LUKE 2:15-16 (KJV)

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

It took effort to go to Bethlehem. They couldn’t just leave the sheep. But it says “they came with haste.”

QUESTIONS

Would you have gone with haste? Or would you have rolled over and gone back to sleep?

Today, do you go with haste to find Jesus? Or do you say, “I believe.” and then roll over and go back to sleep?

LET US PRAY (Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.)

O Lord, I want to be like the shepherds. I want Your glory to shine around me. I want the good tidings of great joy that began that night. I want to be like the shepherds and come to You with haste. Amen

BELIEVING YOU MAY HAVE LIFE

December 18 is the fourth Sunday in Advent. When I looked up Advent, it was explained this way: A time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas. A shorter answer was coming. So, Advent is expecting, waiting and preparation for something to come.

SCRIPTURE: JOHN: parts of Chapter 1

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John (the Baptist) saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ ”

Jesus then added, “I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

BELIEVING YOU MAY HAVE LIFE

Matthew began with the information that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament scriptures and Mark began by telling us that the baby grew into a man. Luke - Luke investigated and announced: IT IS TRUE! What does John want us to know? A LOT!

I didn’t count them, but the study notes tell me the Book of John uses the word life thirty-six times. This is nineteen times more than any other New Testament book. The first eighteen verses of chapter one are a bit deep (theological) but please read all of them. These verses are like a 2 X 4 whack on the head so we do not miss THIS IS THE WORD MADE FLESH!

John also wants us to know John the Baptist is a great man and has his own calling, but John the Baptist is a man sent from God to be a witness. You have to give credit to John the Baptist. He never tried to steal the limelight or make himself to be anything other than what he had been called to do. “I baptize with water but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” John the Baptist came to proclaim: This is the Son of God.

This chapter closes with Jesus talking to the disciples. But what is the main objective of the Book of John?

John 20:31 -- BUT THESE ARE WRITTEN THAT YOU MAY BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD, AND THAT BY BELIEVING YOU MAY HAVE LIFE IN HIS NAME.

Matthew, Mark and Luke informed, investigated and confirmed that Jesus, the fulfillment of the Old Testament, is the Son of God. John wants us to believe! Because, by believing, we - THAT WOULD BE YOU - can have life. Eternal life!

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY

Do you get confused by the first few verses of the Book of John? Or other verses? If so, let me assure you are not alone. Do not let that stop you from reading the Bible. Sometimes the Bible uses complicated words to say: Do you believe in my Son, Jesus?

This week, think about Advent a time of expecting, waiting and preparation for something to come. What do you expect to come? Now take time to talk to God.

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I rarely do a series so the last four weeks have been a stretch for me. It has personally been a challenge because I usually have an idea and then know the scripture to go along with it. And I am not a “deep” writer. I write everyday stuff. This has been a stretch and not as much fun to read, but it has been good too. It has shown me that I can get in a rut about what I write and what I read. It has shown me that I need to read Psalm 139 (my favorite) but that I also need to read John 1:1-18. Thank you for hanging in there while I tried something new. -- Mary

CAREFULLY INVESTIGATED

December 11 is the third Sunday in Advent. When I looked up Advent, it was explained this way: A time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas. A shorter answer was coming. So, Advent is expecting, waiting and preparation for something to come.

SCRIPTURE: LUKE: parts of Chapter 1

Since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you so you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

The angel Gabriel told Zechariah: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.

The angel Gabriel told Mary: “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.”

Mary visits Elizabeth and, upon seeing Mary, Elizabeth exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”

Mary sang: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed.”

Zechariah spoke: “No! His is to be called John.” And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the desert until he appeared publicly to Israel.

CAREFULLY INVESTIGATED

Matthew Chapter 1 contained 25 verses and Mark Chapter 1 contained 45. Then along comes Luke. Luke Chapter 1 contains 80 verses! Luke must have had a deal with the local office supply because 80 verses would require a lot of ink. Luke is one windy guy. Or is he?

Luke wanted this one special friend to know “the certainty of the things you have been taught.”

What a friend Luke was. He wanted to make sure his friend had no doubts. He wanted his friend to know Gabriel himself came to Zechariah and to Mary. He wanted his friend to know - to know IT IS ALL TRUE! Everything his friend had been taught was CERTAIN! Can you see him smiling as he sent this wonderful news to his friend? Can you imagine the joy his friend felt when he read the news Luke had for him?

Matthew began with the information that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament scriptures and Mark began by telling us that the baby grew into a man. Luke - Luke investigated and announced: IT IS TRUE!

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY

Do you know for certain that Jesus is true? Do you have a friend that could use a letter telling them about Jesus?

LET US PRAY (Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.)

Dear God, Thank you for the Gospel of Luke. One friend writing to another to help him understand that everything he had been taught was real. When I am having a rough day or a number of rough days, may I remember that everything I have been taught has been carefully investigated and is true! May I remember that Jesus and the lessons he has for me are true! Amen

DECORATIONS

TODAYS SCRIPTURE: PSALM 104:5

He set the earth on its foundations; it can never be moved.

DECORATIONS

So do you have your Christmas decorations all in their places? Isn't it funny how you put Santa in the same spot each year? And the tree sits where it sat last year. And the nativity rests in its familiar location. The angels know where to go as soon as you open the box and the lights could hang themselves. That is how it always is. Once you find just the right spot, you "set Christmas up" the same each year. That is unless you move.

That is my dilemma. I did put the Advent candle on the television. That is the only Christmas display that stayed where it had always been. Our 43-year-old nativity will go on the table beside the front door. With angels around it.

But where do I put the Christmas tree? And Santa? And the snowmen?

The tree we put up on the loft area, overlooking the living room. We like it there. The lights shine down on us. It makes a colorful glow because I am a multi-color person and have never gone in for just one color of lights.

I am beginning to find spots for the snowmen and think I know where to put the Santas. It will be interesting to see if it all works together to make a festive season. I am having fun (and Bill is tolerating) "setting Christmas up" and finding new locations for our favorite Christmas decorations.

Know what? Next year we may decide to put the tree in a new location. And the snowmen might be grouped differently. And who knows where Santa will recline. Yes, things can be moved around but it is wonderful that we can rest assured that God "set the earth on its foundations; it can never be moved."

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY

Are your decorations up? What is your favorite? What decoration would you hate to break or loose?

Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.

LET US PRAY

The Christmas season has begun. Dear Jesus, I am so excited to begin this time of celebrating your birth. To think that you came to earth for me is such a humbling thought. Let your birth be the foundation of my celebrations. Keep my belief in Your Holy Birth on such a strong foundation that it can never be moved. Amen