1/6/13- Epiphany

When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.  On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.  Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, of incense, and of myrrh. (Mt. 2:10,11)

"I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” (Rev. 22:16)

Thoughts: The star of the magi pointed to the bright and morning star.  Stars were symbols of angels (Job 38:7- "the morning stars sang together and the angels shouted for joy").  Today is Epiphany- the day of the church year that we believe that Christ, the Light of the world, revealed himself.  Three public biblical events celebrate it: Jesus' coming to the Temple (to meet Simeon and Anna); the wise men coming to Him; Jesus coming to be baptized and the very public voice proclaiming "this is my son, listen to him."  Christ did not hide his light under a bushel, but let His light shine.  We should seek to reflect His light this day.

Prayer: You shine in the darkness, O Lord, like the morning star.  Thank you for coming and shining upon us.

Adoration of the Magi Lange Jan 1652 (Bob Jones Museum, Greenville, SC)

12/21/12- Longest Night is not the Shortest Day

Friday- 12/21- Ps. 9:18-But God will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish.Longest Night Service

Thoughts: This is the longest night of the year (the winter solstice).  It is the last night in the Mayan calendar-and some say it means the end of time.  However I am writing this at 6:11 AM est and the world did not end.  This means the longest night is not the shortest day in human history.  The Mayans themselves ran out of time.  This means the longest night is not the shortest day in human history.They were a brutal culture that valued human sacrifices and were in constant war.  When the Assyrian culture was overly brutal God sent Jonah to them to rebuke their brutality threatening the end of their culture.  God does not forget the needy, the hurting, the weak who are brutalized by the powerful.  Tonight at our church we will have a Service for Wholeness and Healing, and invite those who are sick, those who wish to pray for the sick, and those who wish to pray for our world to come.  God will never forget the needy, He values life. And because He will never die, hope will never die.

Prayer: While I breathe, I hope, O Lord.  Each breath is a reminder to put my hope in you. 

Application: Come to the Longest Night Service (about 40 minutes).  If you cannot come, then pray 

for those who are in your life who are afflicted or hurting. 

(The rising of the Morning Star- a symbol of the  Messiah- “The bright and morning star of  hope)

Comfort comfort you my people, Tell of peace thus says our God; 

Comfort those who sit in darkness bowed beneath oppression’s load. 

Speak you to Jerusalem of the peace that waits for them; 

Tell them that their sins I cover, and their warfare now is over.  (PH #3)

11/27/12- Between Memory and Hope

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” (Rev. 22:16)

(Morning star rising)

Thoughts: We are approaching advent.  Some are advent purists, others don't know what advent is all about, and some, like me, are more flexible in how we celebrate it.  Advent is a wonderful tool to think and spend time waiting on God.  The word means "coming."  We live between the first advent (Christmas) and Christ's coming again at the end of the world- or coming to us (face to face) at the end of our lives.  There is a book on advent with an excellent title- "Between Memory and Hope."  It is not that Christ has not come- we do not, I believe, receive much benefit from artificially saying He has not.  Christmas hymns (contrary to what some say) can really be sung any time.  We can celebrate Christmas every day- for He comes into our hearts to make our home.  But advent is a blessing if used in the right way.  It is a season of putting our focus back on God- even if just for 4 weeks.  Today, we are even more busy in advent.  We have completely lost the idea of Sabbath in our culture- and now busy-ness even encroaches more upon us- as people are forced to work on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Eve or Day (believe it or not, many stores when I was young used to close on Christmas Eve).
Perhaps the best image of advent is like the sun's rising- or the morning star coming up.  When the morning star came, it was a sign to those without clocks that the darkness was about to end.  It did this every day.  So we could anticipate the coming of the morning star cycle based not only on math, but usually on simple past experience.  So advent and Christmas come as both memory and hope.  Christ is the morning star that brings light to our darkness.   He does that each day- each day He offers to come if we will look at Him.  As the morning star came long, long ago first at creation- so Christ came long, long ago at Christmas- but also comes every day.  As the morning star promises a time of brighter light and hope fulfilled- so Christmas is a promise of brighter light for us.   

Prayer: Light up my heart once again, O Lord.  I wait on you in hope because of the past, because of the promises, because of your great love.