So the bad dude king, Herod, called his chief priests and scribes together for a little pow-wow, a sneaky set-a-trap-for-the-baby kind of meeting. “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?” the Magi had asked. King Herod got his intellectuals together. Those wise-guys knew immediately where the Messiah was slated to be […]
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Christmas lights are evil, my friend wrote on a facebook post. I know what she means. Tangled strands that don’t light are irritating. But the original Christmas lights were a different story. There was a lot of light happening that first Christmas. The glory of the Lord shone around the shepherds on the hillside. Wise […]
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“Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?” Matt. 2:2. “For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” Growing up, our family put up our tree the day after Thanksgiving. From then on until Christmas day, every morning at least one new mysterious gift appeared […]
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Picking a baby’s name is a big deal. Seriously. Our third daughter was three days old before we agreed that Charity she would be for all eternity. Mary and Joseph didn’t have that dispute. To Joseph: “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His […]
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One of my dearest friends lay in the cold Kansas soil. November winds blew the tree limbs outside the window where we sat. My husband and I listened as the grieving spouse talked, his sorrow, like tears fell on our ears. “There’s something about skin,” he said. “Yesterday, I walked on icy pavement. I waited […]
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Mary the maidservant of the Lord found herself in an unimaginable situation. A child grew within her, Son of the Highest, without human father and apart from the curse of sin. Fully human. Fully God. Completely Holy. “…That Holy One who is born will be called the Son of God.” Luke 1:35; NKJV. It was […]
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I’ve often wondered why the good news came first to shepherds. They weren’t influential or powerful. They had a hard time keeping the Sabbath because sheep needed constant protection. Shepherds were willing to die to protect their lambs from the perils of wild animals and steep ravines. They were just common folk. Like me. Abraham, […]
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Baby Luca cries that heart wrenching pierce of a little soul in despair. It stabs my own as I jiggle him up and down against me, that continual parental dance. My grandson’s body melts into mine but the out of control cries and deep gasps for air continue. “Here, let me try,” his daddy makes […]
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“and of his kingdom there will be no end…” the angel told Mary. Luke 1:32-33; ESV. “This takes forever,” my husband complained, scrutinizing his blank computer screen. Forever is a very long time. “I waited an eternity,” I said after waiting five minutes in a long line of shoppers. With a sigh my daughter sat […]
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Christmas commercials, jingles, and reindeer are pleasant interruptions to sour evening news. Current events shine stadium lights on our culture’s rampant sin. World rulers add a sense of insecurity and fear. We long for deliverance. “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been […]
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