Preparing for Christmas - 12.20.2011

One of the things that troubles my heart greatly is when the non-religious mock me...or others for our faith. It actually doesn't matter whether I'm a Christian, or Muslim, or Jewish.  What matters to the mocker is that they find us, those who believe in God, utterly ridiculous and foolish.

What I completely understand is that general statements are unfair. Not all non-religious people mock others. Not all religious people are mocked, possibly because not all professed Christians, Muslims or Jews are firm in the faith they claim and simply walk under the umbrella of religion given to them by their parents.

I get it. I understand.

Who I'm talking about is the individual who judges a person of faith based on his or her need to prove their opinion correct and the other person's religion as ridiculous. All the while they preach tolerance and at the same time tolerance is the last thing in their heart.

Obviously, the person judging missed the point.

This also leads me to a recent review I read about the book we're reading together. The reader was disappointed and annoyed and wrote somewhat negative commentary.  Of course it's a matter of opinion.

Yes, I get it. Yes, I understand.

The reader's disappointment was because she felt the author was supposed to teach "new" things and really give an in depth answer to all the questions. In reality this small, concise, easy to read book, is simply a tool. The author never really answers the questions for you. He invites you to dig, open your mind to possibilities, formulate your own questions...and seek answers.

Obviously, the person writing the review missed the point.

What I find myself understanding is that when an individual mocks your point of view or disagrees with the way you went about completely a project, it's because THEY would have done it differently or THEY can't see your point and THEY want you to think, feel, talk, walk and live the way THEY do.

Really?

From David Jeremiah's book, Why the Nativity?

Question #20 - Why Didn't Jesus Have a Royal Birth?

I could quote many things but what I felt spoke to my heart best was this:

"...God's ways often run counter to our expectations. Jesus didn't arrive in the manner of a king for several reasons, the most important of which is simply that he came to turn the world and its values upside down. The conventional wisdom of our world is that kings rule the rest of us from ivory towers. They set up a hierarchy that ranges from the most powerful to the least. Jesus came to make a shocking statement: that true greatness is found not in ruling but in serving."

Jesus lived and breathed and walked this earth. Many peoples revere him or at the very least have an enormous respect for him.  But what I also see is that many others mock Him, curse Him, laugh at His followers.

Why? Because they refuse to believe (like the Roman guards who laughed at Jesus) that the "greatest King of all was the one capable of stooping to the lowest level and lifting each of his children toward heaven."

How do we mock Jesus today? Maybe that is a question we all need to ask.

Try not to miss the point so you too can say,

"I get it. I understand."

Get the book. It won't give you all the answers but it will certainly lead you into discovering all your heart wants to hear.

Why the Nativity?

Preparing for Christmas - 12.19.2011

One of the more intriguing visuals, and maybe even the most difficult to imagine, is when the Wise Men visited Jesus, Mary and Joseph.  Can you imagine what the journal entry would have read like if Mary kept one as she counted each of Jesus' days?

"Day 672 - What an incredible day! Joseph was outside finishing a promised troth for a neighbor and I was inside cleaning up while Jesus was taking a nap. All of a sudden we could hear the entire neighborhood erupt in commotion because off in the distance could be seen a MASSIVE caravan.  Perhaps they were lost or passing through? Ummmm...nope. They were coming to see Jesus. JESUS?! HOW did they even know?  I thought perhaps Gabriel had paid them a visit too or maybe it was time like Hannah's son?  Wrong on both.

They were astrologers from the Orient and do not know our God, yet they arrived to worship. I've never seen such rich and luxurious clothing!  They brought gifts, knelt down as I held our little boy, and opened each one. Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh. With each gift I became more frightened and confused. How can all this be? What now?  For now I am simply writing these thoughts down and will carry them in my heart. Joseph tells me Jesus is in great danger and since it is without question where these men came to visit, we must flee tonight. Immediately. I hope to write again soon. Praise the gracious God who always provides. These gifts, especially the gold will help us on the journey and get us settled in Egypt."

Although I can have fun and imagine what Mary's journal entry may have been, it's still difficult to wrap my mind around.  The closest thought I could come to was what my own would look like in today's present age.

"10.06.2007 - Matthew is getting so big! He turned two just last week. Unbelievable where the time goes. Now get this -- today while he napped, I started to fold some laundry. All of a sudden I could hear sirens, and more sirens, and they got louder and louder. I looked outside scared out of my mind and saw a large caravan of limousines and secret service pull in front of the house. Did we win Publisher Clearinghouse? A publicity shot for the President? Ummm...nope. Out of the limousine that carried a flag from Saudi Arabia, emerged a delegation of princes. Woah.  

At this point I had our son firmly in my grasp and the men came to our door and introduced themselves. From what they had been studying and been told, our son is the next great leader of the world and they brought gifts. WHAT?! I knew I had entered Matthew's picture in a good looking baby contest and was told he was adorable and had great potential for the boy's version of  Toddlers and Tiaras, but this?!!  They laid out their unbelievably expensive gifts (some of which were a little creepy) and wished me farewell.  Unfortunately the news media got wind of it and so did some shady lawyers and the IRS, so now we have to leave. But still. Wow. Gotta run. I'll write again soon. Going some place warm for a while."

I know that sounds a little far fetched, but honestly that could be close to what it may have been like. These Wise Men and these gifts. Really?

From David Jeremiah's book, Why the Nativity?

Day 19: Why Did the Wise Men Bring Gifts?

I've written for you what danced around in my mind while I read this chapter and I attempted to put it into perspective for me...for today...in the United States...as a Christian woman. Yet, the question remains and you find a little nugget of wisdom in the middle of today's chapter:

"The fact that they were non-Jews and even foreigners suggested that the Child was more than a Jewish Messiah. As Gabriel said, he is the Son of God; therefore he belongs to the world, as the world belongs to him.

The object of their entire rigorous quest was one of worship, and worship of a God probably not their own. This Child was for everyone, and the gifts would reflect both the givers and the recipient."

I'm sure you can do a google search of the gifts and their significance. However, the way Dr. Jeremiah takes you through the understanding was quite unique and certainly opened my mind to visualize all the glorious fanfare of that extravagant caravan.  It would do you good to read it for yourself.

For myself, as the chapter drew to it's conclusion I began to see more than just the gifts of the Magi. I saw another gift and found it to be more precious than the gold, frankincense or myrrh given to a humble little family so many years ago.

A gift for you perhaps?
Why the Nativity?

Preparing for Christmas - 12.18.2011

Have you ever listened to an extremely bitter person?  You know the one. The one who is never happy, never satisfied, always complaining, always assuming everyone is against them.

They are simply miserable human beings. It's so sad.

Fortunately for me, I've only really ever "known" one and that's because I worked with her. She complained about E V E R Y T H I N G.  No matter what I did or how much "light" I tried to bring to her day...all I ever got was grumbling.  I can't imagine how much I annoyed her.  But then again, I wasn't the only one.

Today, every time I see a person who has that same air about them or that "look", I smile politely and move on.  I've been on the receiving end of verbal abuse from individuals who don't like my demeanor so I tend to steer clear. There is one woman I know who works at a store I frequent whose name translates literally into "pains".  One afternoon she let me know how little she appreciated my greeting and has no desire to have my "fantastic attitude". Mind you, she said it in the snarkiest voice as she rolled her eyes at me and scanned the items I was purchasing.

Yeah, it was bad.

Have you ever noticed how small children don't have bitterness? I'm not talking about the bad days when they miss a nap and have tantrums.  Lord knows I've had plenty!

I'm talking about the pure innocence and joy of a child. For example -- when they see a loved one. They almost seem to love everyone without abandon. They run up, wrap their Cheerio laden hands around adult legs, wipe sticky faces on pants or skirts, and say "I wub woo!" You see all faces just light up.

Little ones don't decide they have to clean up first before they express themselves. It's immediate. A reaction of what they feel inside when they lay their eyes on their hearts' desire. Shrieks and shrills of delight. For me, as a mom, and a woman who loves young children, it causes me to smile from ear to ear. So much so that often times it makes my face hurt.

But as adults, what has caused us to lose our childlike wonder and joy?  Yes, I know the list can be long. Mine has been longer than I care to share in certain seasons of my life. But to walk around with a dark cloud over head and make everyone I come in contact with miserable?

From David Jeremiah's book, "Why the Nativity?"

Day 18: Why Was King Herod So Angry?

After Dr. Jeremiah takes you through a historical timeline of events during the last six decades before Jesus' birth, you almost begin to see why a half Jewish King in ancient Palestine would lead a paranoid and lonely life.

He then writes:

"The miserable king was thinking about death at the very time when someone was coming to conquer it. He was making funeral arrangements, attempting suicide (unsuccessfully), and lying awake through the night, wondering who would come in the night to steal his crown."

 King Herod was so miserable that he refused to see any good around him. He already had so much blood on his hands, he didn't care if there would be more to spill...including that of a baby boy.  After all, he had easily taken the lives of his own sons.

Earlier, I posed today's question to our children.  Surprisingly, they got it. Without any prompting at all, they understood that King Herod had no desire of being replaced and wanted to make sure the baby boy the Wise Men had come to worship was eliminated.  Immediately after, they both exclaimed "Good thing they listened to the angel and didn't tell King Herod.  Now, we have Jesus!"

Now we have Jesus.

There are some embittered adults who could care less about the birth of Jesus. There are also some adults who are perfectly content in their lives without Jesus.  Not to mention there are some adults who "have" Jesus and live perfectly bitter lives.

So what's the point? What does it matter that we understand why King Herod was so angry?

It might be important to understand that Jesus came into this world for all of us. Do we react in bitterness and misery? Do we react in fear and anger? Do we react in pride and self assurance? Do we react by ignoring and avoiding?

Or do we react with childlike wonder bringing light to those we love by being amazed, and digging deeper, and not caring about dirty hands or sticky faces all the while asking questions until we can't ask anymore.

Can we?

With childlike wonder and excitement, we have Jesus and there is much to celebrate.

Write your "Dear Santa" letter and put this book at the top of your list.
Why the Nativity?

Before I leave you, can I ask you to pray for "Pains"?  I don't know what troubles her heart but it certainly makes me sad for her. Thank you.

Preparing for Christmas - 12.17.2011

The beautiful message of Christmas is that it is for everyone, even those and maybe even most especially those who don't believe in the Christ Child as the promised Messiah. This is in part why I love reading the book we are going through together. It's not just "a story" or a message. It is like a carefully laid out canvas and each question you are brought to adds a dimension of texture and color as if the painting is unfolding in front of your very eyes.

Today's chapter was a sumptuous mix of science and faith.  I love how research has been done to attempt to pinpoint the birth of Jesus by laying out different astrological events 2000 years ago.  Halley's Comet, the constellation Aries, Saturn and Jupiter are just a few possibilities.  My mind was lead through endless thoughts and theories as to how to answer the question posed. Then just as I began to wrap my heart around what the birth of that precious little baby boy would mean to the world, the author helps you draw a glorious conclusion.

From David Jeremiah's book, Why the Nativity?

Day 17: Why the Star of Bethlehem?

"We love the star of Bethlehem because it shines bright enough that people of other faiths and other lands might join us at the manger. It shone for Jews, Greeks, Romans, Arabians, and anyone else who might look to Bethlehem. It dominated the night sky, reminding us that our faith is great enough for the world to enjoy."

Even though I was fascinated by all the scientific possibilities, I realized one thing.  It really didn't matter what the event was. A star is just a star.

What seems to matter more is the mystery of the timing. There were astrologers from the East who read those gorgeous night skies, compared them to ancient writings of another people, and headed west. They had their science and by faith they traveled, believing they would find someone great enough to be King.

Somehow for me, I hope to recognize that the stars my family and I sleep under tonight are the very same stars you and your family sleep under.  In doing so, I also hope to remember that the brilliant star which made it's appearance over two thousand years ago was meant for not just you and me...but the whole entire world.

I hope your desire is to continue to watch this canvas unfold in front of your eyes.

Get the book.

Order it today.
Why the Nativity?

Preparing for Christmas - 12.16.2011

Ok, so now that we've caught up together there is no longer a need for a "version".  Yes, I like for things to be even and neat and organized but well, ya know. If I intend to keep it "perfect" then it will never get done.

I had a lot fun with today's question because it is a question I myself ask over and over again every year. As a matter of fact when I began to read the chapter I asked the question, "How did THEY know? What made THEM so different? How come no one else figured it out? Why were THEY part of the story?"

From David Jeremiah's book, Why the Nativity?

December 16 : Why the Wise Men?

He opens with,

"There is something magical and mysterious about the age-old picture. From across a continent, over the desert sand, beneath the silent stars trudges a curious caravan. In distant lands, these men have read signs and portents in the evening sky, sensing an incredible truth that few other living souls were to recognize for many years."

Like a child I impatiently stammered as I read these words and thought to myself, "Yes! I'm tracking with you  Dr. Jeremiah but please tell me more!"

But he never really seemed to answer it. Now this may sound a little disappointing but it's not. What David Jeremiah actually did was extremely creative and very thought provoking. He invited you to read the account in scripture and as you did he also invited you in to somewhat "read" your own heart.

You begin to notice you are asking more and even deeper questions. Interestingly enough, Dr. Jeremiah brings you through those questions and allows you (the reader) to begin to "see" the answers.

For me, it expands my view of a Being who continues to cover all the details for any person who questions the significance of each and every aspect surrounding the birth of Jesus, the Christ Child.

Who were these Wise Men? How did they know? Why was their visit recorded? What was so significant and how does it apply to me and my family? Why does it matter?

What I find is something I explored alongside David Jeremiah.

"...shepherds and sheikhs alike are invited to come -- rich and poor, neighbor and new-comer. The magi followed the heavens and their hearts. [They] followed the light of a star, and God accommodated the limited wisdom of their time and place. The visitors brought the gifts...that might be presented to any emperor. Yet the shepherds brought only their delight and praise."

And on returning to their homeland:

"The magi went home by another way; so do we. In the presence of Christ, all roads become new to us; ..."

May I cease struggling to be "perfect". It simply will never be on this earth.  Instead, may I continue in glorious wonderment at the perfect gift of a newborn king.

Get the book. Give it to yourself as a gift.

Why the Nativity? - David Jeremiah

Blessings for your day,