Three wise men.

Searching, studying, waiting, watching. A calling in their hearts had their eyes on the skies. Looking for a sign. Longing for a Savior.

There must be more to life than living for self. Purpose. Passion. Filling for the emptiness carved by sin and suffering and anguish and life. Something to truly treasure.

Finally, darkness split by light not to be missed. The heavens again declare the glory of God.

Star light. Star bright. Lead to the Savior through the dark of night.

A Child of Hope;

of promise always spoken

of love never broken.

In the straw. In the manger. In the dark. In the cold.

Not what was in their hands, but in the hearts.*

And three wise-men find their King. An epiphany of the heart.

7 Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.”

9 When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

12 Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way. Matthew 2:7-12

By Mary Kane

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Copyright 2016

*Ed Stetzer

The Lights of Christmas

In the dusk of a December evening, my car crunches down the icy roads. I look forward to this every year. I used to drive with two excited kids in the car. Munching cookies. Caroling our hearts out. A Christmas tradition long kept. Now my sons are grown and gone so I keep the faith by myself. Still excited. Still blessed by the lights of Christmas.

15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—16 the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.” 17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4:15-17

It’s like a treasure hunt.

Who still believes? Who still keeps the light of Christmas burning in their heart, twinkling on the eaves and door frames of their houses? Sparkling displays of an inner faith of the Immanuel King, born in a manger in the dark of a winter eve.

Dark streets offer no hope.

No lights. No love. No life. Where is Jesus in this darkness? Those who have no Christmas lights of their own can only see from afar the lights of their neighbors. Reflected glory. Borrowed joy.  Maybe Christmas lights burning strong, true and beautiful will cause others to ask, wonder, reflect and accept.

Light your candles. Trim your trees. Maybe the people asking why the lights? will then ask why the cross?

Merry Cross-mas.

Merry Christmas.

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Music is huge in my family.

Every holiday and gathering is marked by music.  Families gathered round a campfire with guitars. Generations circling the piano singing with hearts and souls. Aunts and uncles. Nieces and nephews. Rocking chairs and wheel chairs. Family jumbled together and bonded by music.

Especially the music of Christmas.

This year I’ve noticed a change. What has happened to the Christmas music? I went for a drive last night to look at the Christmas lights (what’s happened to those btw? A blog for another time), and tried to find a station with Christmas music. Good luck. I found three. Two Christian stations playing modern pop Christmas songs which NO ONE knows and one top forty station playing a steady diet of Rocking Around the Christmas Tree while Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer.

Left me empty. Left me longing for more. Left me asking is this all there is? We were made for more than Santa, Frosty, Rudolph and Jack Frost. There’s blessing in all this empty and longing for more. It leads us to Jesus.

Hark the herald

Blood, sweat, and tears mixed with hay and straw. A little baby born on a cold bitter night. God’s perfect gift. Peace on earth and good will to men. Grace upon grace. Sing a song of Christmas and welcome the Newborn King.

8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” 15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” Luke 2:8-15

For you listening pleasure, take a break and listen to some music of the season. The music of Christmas proclaims the real reason we sing, Christ the Savior is born.

Listen to the Music of Christmas:

Stille Nacht

The First Noel

A Cradle in Bethlehem

This one always wrecks me. Every. Single. Time.

A little Christmas quiet:

Gregory Dickow: The Silence of Christmas

Christmas

Peace on earth and good will towards men. All creation waits for the coming Savior.

silent nights. holy nights. starry skies. heavenly peace.

Shadowy figures in a stable and one brings forth the Messiah. While shepherds worship and angels herald from the heavens, three kings seek the new born king. But are there only three kings of Christmas?

The 5 Kings of Christmas.

King Herod

“13 After the wise men were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up! Flee to Egypt with the child and his mother,” the angel said. “Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to search for the child to kill him” … 16 “Herod was furious when he realized that the wise men had outwitted him. He sent soldiers to kill all the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under, based on the wise men’s report of the star’s first appearance. 17 Herod’s brutal action fulfilled what God had spoken through the prophet Jeremiah.”  Matthew 2:13, 16-17

One wicked evil king of Christmas.

plotting

scheming

deceiving

The poster child for how not to use your god-given power and influence. Jealous and suspicious.  Everything Jesus isn’t. Herod plots to take the life of the One who came to give His life as a ransom for many. Innocent children slaughtered for an earthly kingdom not kept. How different Herod’s legacy could have been if he had decided to worship God instead of himself.

The Three Kings

Three wise kings from the Orient are.

searching

watching

following

“behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem,  saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”  Matt 1b-2

That’s what wise men do—seek Jesus.  They look for signs with eyes and hearts wide open. They spend their lives and fortunes striving, searching, looking. And when they find Him, they worship. Wise men and women still seek the One who came to seek and save the lost.

The King of Kings

Emmanuel; God is with us.

sacrificing

redeeming

restoring

“For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Galatians 4:4-5

And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” Revelation 9:16

Our King has come! He rescues and redeems. He covers our sins, and heals our wounds. Greater than our darkness, His light shines like the star in the east and beckons all to come. Worship at the manger and find peace at the cross. The King of Kings.

Behold your King:

He rules over our sin.

He shreds our doubts.

He ransoms our debt.

He fulfills our every need.

He is stronger than our deepest fear.

He is greater than our guilt.

He is King over everything.

He wins. He rules. He reigns.

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Forever and ever ….

and ever

and ever

and ever

Jesus, the King of Kings, the King of Christmas

Merry Christmas.

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At Christmas, our hearts turn to thoughts of Jesus.

We think of the newborn King swaddled in rough wool, laying in a manger. We ponder the cradle. But what about the cross?  What does cross have to do with Christmas?

‘Cross the continent,

Miles away, in the land of Persia, the Wise men readied supplies and treasures to cross over hazardous terrain to reach the feet of Jesus. Doubtlessly many troubles crossed their path as they journeyed to Bethlehem. Across  political lines and racial boundaries they trekked. Sacrifice, labor and love marked their journey as a star led them to the Light of the World.

‘Cross the town of Bethlehem,

the shepherds watched over their flocks in the fields and valleys.  Not a star, but angels crossed paths with the herdsmen.  The messengers of God heralded the Good News.  Through the silent night, the shepherds crossed the town in search of the tiny King.

‘Cross the wilderness,

Joseph led Mary to Bethlehem. The young couple couldn’t leave town quick enough.  Many believed they had crossed a line. But Joseph and Mary knew. They KNEW the One who called them. And they followed.

‘Cross the temple she saw them.

She saw Him. Even if her old eyes failed, the Spirit within her would have recognized HIM anywhere. Quickly, she crossed the courtyard of the temple. The aged and newborn. Cross generations of time, a widow meets her Savior.

The cradle. The cross. Christmas.

Because of the cradle, we have the cross.

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“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21

Action Points

1. Cross the continent and pray for another nation this Christmas. Choose a nation that is in the news or go to Voice of the Martyrs and find a nation in need of prayer.  Like the Wisemen, how can you reach across the continent with the message Christmas?
2. Cross your town and share the love of Christ with those in need. Google search charitable organizations in your town such as Salvation Army,  Samaritans  or a local soup kitchen. Like the shepherds, how can you cross your town to share the love of Christ this holiday season?
3. Cross your church and look for the tired, the discouraged or the lonely. There are many walking wounded in our own congregations. Like Anna how can you reach across the pews of your church and share the love of our Savior this Christmas?

Merry Christmas.

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Copyright 2016

Holidays or Holydays?

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year.  Especially after a divisive election season (Let’s just quit talking about it already). There is a certain excitement, energy  and camaraderie around a national holiday. A common interest enables us to drop our animosity and connect to others. Hearts and hands working for a common cause.

But is  Christmas a holiday or a Holyday? What is the difference?

One letter.

i or y

That one letter makes a big difference.

Please take a minute and go there with me. In the middle of holiday is the letter I. I asks the following questions: What do I want? What do I get? What’s in this holiday for me, myself and I? Am I happy? Am I comfortable? Holiday centers on I.

Holyday, Holy day.

Holyday, on the other hand, asks a different set of questions …

Y?

Y, God, do love us so much?

Y did you send Jesus to tabernacle among us?

Y are You so good to us?

Y did you choose us to be your children?

Holyday centers us on God and His goodness.

Holiday is fun, but  it’s only skin deep. It appeals to the 5 senses but doesn’t make a deeper appeal to the heart.

While I love the fun of holidays (the cookies, the parties, the caroling), I need the depth of Holydays to satisfy my heart and fill my spirit.

Do a little holiday experiment and listen to the Holiday/Holyday music below.

Now listen to Josh Groban’s version of O Holy Night.

Did you feel the difference? O Holy Night wrecks me every time I hear it. Can’t say the same about Jingle Bell Rock. Holidays are fun, but they need to be a part of the more important Holyday.

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

What can you do to help your family put holy back into holiday?

1. Watch the Nativity Story with family or friends.
2. Take a night time walk through your neighborhood and pray for your neighbors.
3. Read the Christmas Story from the Gospel of Luke.
4. Make Christmas cookies and share them with a person who needs the love of Christ.
5. Click on the following link for more  ideas.  8 Ways to Center on Christ at Christmas

Let me know your ideas and thoughts by leaving a comment below.

Happy Holidays and Happy Holydays!

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copyright 2016