Christmas Devotion (December 6) - God With Us

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. – Isaiah 7:14 

What must Isaiah have thought when God told him to write these words? Isaiah ben Amoz was a prophet, living in Jerusalem 680 years before Jesus was born. He lived in the time just prior to the Babylonian captivity (when Babylon overthrew Jerusalem and the kingdom of Judah and took many Jews into captivity while destroying the city). 

Much of the book of Isaiah contains warnings to the Jews that they need to return to worshipping God or they will be punished. It lays out the takeover of Babylon and the eventual collapse of that great empire. Isaiah then goes on to speak of Cyrus the Great, a ruler of the Medo-Persian empire, who would allow the Jews to return to Jerusalem. Amidst all this prophecy, warnings of doom and words of restoration, Isaiah suddenly pens the words: "The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." 

What did it mean? Isaiah himself may not have known. These words were a prophecy that would need to wait for 680 years before fulfillment through the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ. But the promise is there for all of us...His name was to be Immanuel which means "God with us." 

"Henry David Thoreau decided to get into Walden Pond one day and sink down until the water was at eye level, so he could see the world through the eyes of a frog. I always thought, How stupid; and really, who cares? But I began to think about Henry David Thoreau this week. I began to think about Christmas, and I began to think about God. Do you realize that’s what God did? The God of the universe, with no limitations, allowed Himself to be born of the Virgin Mary. He looked through human eyes and grew up like you and me, so that He would understand us and know how to relate to us. If Christmas is anything, Christmas is the story of God changing worlds and putting limitations upon Himself. It’s the story of a baby born in Bethlehem, who was more powerful than the Roman Empire that existed that day." John Maxwell 

God with us...that is who Jesus is. He is God and He made us, yet He came to earth to live with us. To walk the paths we walk, to be tempted by the same things we struggle with, to know hunger, pain, rejection and sorrow, just as we do. Why...to show us that He knows us, knows what we face, can understand our weaknesses, and wants us even with all our ugliness and sin. He is God with us. 

Christmas Devotion (December 5) - O Little Town of Bethlehem

“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.” – Micah 5:2

It's not how I would have done it. If I was coming to earth to show the people I had created who I was in the hope that they would believe and follow me, I would have done things much differently. For one...I would have come as the most powerful being they had ever seen. One look at me and they would have known that I was God.  A super hero of super heroes. But that's not how Jesus did it.

I would have chosen a family that was rich, powerful, mighty, with servants galore. Their influence would have been world-wide. At my birth there would have been no doubt that I was the King of Kings, God in the flesh. The Messiah. But that't not how Jesus did it.

The setting for my birth would have been the center of the world...a New York City, London, Beijing or in that time...Rome. That way, as soon as I was born, those with influence and power would have known about it. And the news would be spread by the most reliable news carriers to the four corners of the globe. But that's not how Jesus did it.

No, "Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful." 1 Corinthians 1:27  He came as a humble baby to a poor family who could only find a bed for Him in an animal trough. He chose to bless a small town, in the shadow of mighty Jerusalem, with His birth.

Isn't that like our God? He so often chooses the small, the humble, the weak and the powerless to work His mighty deeds. No matter how little or insignificant you may feel, God can and wants to work through you to further His Kingdom. Just like Bethlehem, though small among the clans of Judah, your life can be the fulfillment of God's promises as you draw others to Him.

Prayer:
God, thank You that You came as a Baby King in the most surprising way at the most surprising time. We need Advent this year, particularly. We need to see Your face in the middle of chaotic and challenging times when our souls are tired of the worldly rush and rage and unrest. Help us to see You, focus on Your astonishing incarnation into a messy world, and celebrate You. Ignite our wonder and awe! We love you. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Christmas Devotion (December 4) - Silent Night and World War I

Silent Night

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.

Luke 2:16

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

Stille Nacht! Heil'ge Nacht! 
Alles schläft; einsam wacht 
Nur das traute hoch heilige Paar. 
Holder Knab' im lockigen Haar, 
Schlafe in himmlischer Ruh! 
Schlafe in himmlischer Ruh! 

It was Christmas Eve, 1914, during the early months of World War I. When the Germans had left their country earlier in the year, they expected to be home by Christmas to celebrate their victory. The young men, however, were not home by Christmas and the war dragged on for four more years—and Europe, and the world, would never be the same again.

By December of 1914, trench warfare along the 200 mile front was proving to be a difficult and deadly form of battle. The trenches were filled with mud, vermin and death. Christmas of 1914 was particularly cold, freezing the slush and water of the trenches in which the men hunkered down.

But, on December 24, along the trenches of the western front, British and Scottish soldiers heard a startling sound—the sound of singing. And it was a song they instantly recognized, even if they did not understand the words. The song was Silent Night, or as the Germans sang it, Stille nacht, heilige nacht.

Shocked by this strange yet welcome sound, one by one, the English began singing "back" to the Germans their version of this beautiful melody. Soon, voices on both sides filled the air with the strains of Silent Night.

As they looked across to the enemy trenches, the Allies began to spot candles raised on poles or bayonets. And even more incredibly, the English officers reported that some enemy troops were holding Christmas trees over their heads. Soldiers from both sides, who had just hours before had been killing one another, tentatively began to emerge from their trenches and to venture into the dreaded "no man’s land" bringing good cheer and gifts from their kits—and to bury their dead.

Against all odds, a spontaneous, one day truce had begun; a truce that ignored all the rules of military conduct! 

As you sing Silent Night this year, think back to that terrible time at the beginning of the last century. Both sides had sung of Christ for hundreds of years, but still embarked on a war that would take the best and brightest of an entire generation. But yet, against all odds, God’s peace prevailed for a brief season.

I urge you to let God’s peace help you right now. Ask the Savior, the Babe of Bethlehem to work a miracle—to change your attitude or your circumstances. He will do it if, in faith, you ask Him. Jesus Christ came to bring peace—peace that displaces worry and fear. Peace with God. It’s the key to a truly happy life. And then, don’t forget to thank Him! 

Here is Silent Night with lyrics sung by Casting Crowns  https://youtu.be/Sb7M81xHK0k

Christmas Devotion (December 3) - Silent Night

Silent Night

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.

Luke 2:16

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

It was December 24, 1818, and in Oberndorf, Austria, the assistant priest went to the home of his friend, the organist of the small church. He brought the words of a poem that he had written two years earlier and asked him to write a tune to it, to use at the Christmas Eve Midnight Mass. The organist, Franz Xaver Gruber, reminded Fr. Joseph Mohr that the organ wasn’t working and so they would not be able to have music for the service. Fr. Mohr went in the other room and got a guitar. Gruber strummed a few chords, then started humming. He exclaimed, "The song, it sings itself." A few hours later, he had composed the tune, and the two men presented the carol for the first time that Christmas Eve.

When the organ repairman, Carl Mauracher, later heard the carol, he took a copy of it with him. He presented it to two groups of traveling singers, who then performed it in their Christmas repertoire, and thus it began its journey around the world. The Strasser and Rainer families traveled and performed all over Europe, and they sang "the Tyrolian folk carol". The Rainer family brought the carol to the United States, first performing it in German in New York City in 1839.

A publisher heard the carol sung near Innsbruck, Austria around 1832. He liked it and published it for the first time, claiming the source to be a "Tyrolian folk song." The songwriters were not known at that time, and the tune had been changed somewhat from the original. That printed version is the melody that is still widely sung. However, in 1995 a copy of "Silent Night" was found, written in Fr. Joseph Mohr’s own hand, which gives the origin of this carol, along with proof of its creators.

Silent Night speaks of peace...heavenly peace...and that is just what Jesus brings to our weary world. Peace with God the Father, our creator, who could not bear to look upon the sinful world, totally unforgiven and separated from Him. So He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to bring us peace with Him through His sacrificial death on the cross. Heavenly peace to every weary soul who will look to the Lord Jesus and be saved.

Here is Silent Night with lyrics sung by Casting Crowns https://youtu.be/Sb7M81xHK0k

Christmas Devotion (December 2) - O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him ‘Emmanuel’, which means ‘God with us.’ Matthew1:23

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

The season of Advent is often a whirl of buying gifts, decorating the tree and a non-stop succession of programs and parties. It was, however, not that way for the Monks of the Middle Ages. In the monastery, Advent was a time of meditation on serious subjects: death, judgment, heaven and hell. And the month in which we think of Christ’s first coming was used by monks to reflect on His second coming. In the same way, this should be true for Christians today. We glance backward to Bethlehem, but we look forward to eternity with God.

Our hymn, one of the oldest to be found in any Christian hymnal, has its origin in seven Latin sentences which were sung during medieval monastic vespers leading up to Christmas. Its usage dates all the way back to the 9th century. Each stanza (originally, the stanzas were short sentences) salutes the returning Messiah by one of the many titles ascribed to Him in Scripture.

The carol includes seven Old Testament references to the coming Messiah, including:

Emmanuel (God with us) Isa. 7:14 

Lord of Might Ex. 19:16 

Rod (Branch) of Jesse Isa. 11:1, Isa. 11:10 

Dayspring (Morning Star) Num. 24:17 

Key of David Isa. 22:22

Wisdom Isa. 28:29 

Desire of nation Hag. 2:7

The chorus echoes the desire of Zechariah 9:9, "See, your king comes to you" and Revelation 22:20, "Amen, Come Lord Jesus." We echo the glorious last plea of the New Testament as we meditate on the names and person of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The ancient hymnwriter refers to Jesus as "Emmanuel" and "God with us". He implores Jesus to come and end the Christian’s separation from God. While we can experience reconciliation and friendship with God right now, the hymn longs for that perfect, completed fellowship which will be enjoyed in eternity.

Jesus is also referred to as the "Dayspring" (or the "Rising Sun"—see Luke 1:78) and is asked to remove the gloom of spiritual night and the shadows of death. Whether writing in the 9th or 21st century, these words still address the yearning of Christians everywhere for Christ’s return.

Another name for Jesus is the "Rod of Jesse" (see Isaiah 11:1). It is a term found in the King James Version of the Bible and signifies Christ’s fight to free His people from Satan, hell and the grave. It hearkens back to the time when a rod, the club used by shepherds to fight wild animals, played a significant role in defending the sheep.

O Come, O Come Emmanuel is a vital reminder for today’s Christian, who with the seeming obsession for this present world, must be reminded to prepare for the world that is to come.

"And He shall come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead" and He will announce "the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come."

Nicene Creed, 325 AD

Here is a link to the song with lyrics https://youtu.be/OMnKcftuauU

Here is a link to the song with video from The Nativity Story  Song with video

Here is a beautiful instrumental by The Piano Guys https://youtu.be/iO7ySn-Swwc

Christmas Devotion (December 1) - The Joy of Every Longing Heart

May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The One who calls you is faithful and He will do it.  1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

At our house some of my children have been counting down the days til Christmas since the middle of November. They especially like the blow-up Santa on our neighbors' lawn that holds the number of days in his hands. I smile at their happy anticipation and have asked the Lord to grant me a positive anticipation this Christmas season...not for gifts, parties and decorations, but for His presence in my life, each and every day, and for His second coming to this earth.

"Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus" is a carol about the Israelites' longing for a Savior. They wanted someone to free them from fears, sins, and ultimately, they wanted someone to give them much needed peace.

Don't we all have the same longing? To be free from our fears, to be forgiven and to find peace. We need Jesus who says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls." (Matthew 11:28-29)

Charles Wesley's lyrics in "Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus" remind us that Advent is a time to celebrate Jesus' coming to earth, His coming to reign in our hearts and His future second coming, when we will be raised to live forever with Him in Heaven. Anticipation of these truths, this Christmas, is the best part of Christmas!

Come, Thou long expected Jesus,
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel's Strength and Consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King.
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit,
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all-sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

Prayer:   Lord, Jesus, You were born a child and yet a king. May You be my consolation, hope, and strength as I focus on You throughout the holidays. Help me to see Your birth with its eternal perspective, for one day, I, too will be raised up to live with You forever. In Your name I pray, Amen. 

** Some excerpts taking from Preparing My Heart for Advent by Ann Marie Stewart

Squanto - A Special Instrument of God

On this Thanksgiving day I'd like to share the true story of Squanto...the Native American who helped the Pilgrims survive that first year. 

Historical accounts of Squanto's life vary, but historians believe that around 1608, more than a decade before the Pilgrims arrived, a group of English traders sailed to what is today Plymouth, Massachusetts. When the trusting Wampanoag Indians came out to trade, the traders took them prisoner, transported them to Spain, and sold them into slavery. It was an unimaginable horror.

But God had an amazing plan for one of the captured Indians, a boy named Squanto.

Squanto was bought by a well-meaning Spanish monk, who treated him well and taught him the Christian faith. Squanto eventually made his way to England and worked in the stables of a man named John Slaney. Slaney sympathized with Squanto's desire to return home, and he promised to put the Indian on the first vessel bound for America.

It wasn't until 1619, ten years after Squanto was first kidnapped, that a ship was found. Finally, after a decade of exile and heartbreak, Squanto was on his way home.

But when he arrived in Massachusetts, more heartbreak awaited him. An epidemic had wiped out Squanto's entire village.

We can only imagine what must have gone through Squanto's mind. Why had God allowed him to return home, against all odds, only to find his loved ones dead?

A year later, the answer came. A shipload of English families arrived and settled on the very land once occupied by Squanto's people. Squanto went to meet them, greeting the startled Pilgrims in English.

According to the diary of Pilgrim Governor William Bradford, Squanto "became a special instrument sent of God for [our] good . . . He showed [us] how to plant [our] corn, where to take fish and to procure other commodities . . . and was also [our] pilot to bring [us] to unknown places for [our] profit, and never left [us] till he died."

When Squanto lay dying of fever, Bradford wrote that their Indian friend "desir[ed] the Governor to pray for him, that he might go to the Englishmen's God in heaven." Squanto bequeathed his possessions to the Pilgrims "as remembrances of his love."

Who but God could so miraculously convert a lonely Indian and then use him to save a struggling band of Englishmen? It is reminiscent of the biblical story of Joseph, who was also sold into slavery, and whom God likewise used as a special instrument for good.