December 2017 Christmas Letter

 

“Now, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, magi from the East arrived…and they came into the house and saw the Child with Mary

His mother; and they fell down and worshipped Him; and opening their treasures they presented to him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh…”

(Matthew 2:1a, 11)

December 3, 2017

When I was a child, we were encouraged each year to make a list of what we wanted for Christmas. Of course our imaginations would run wild like most children’s, but being from a large family with limited resources, I learned early in life not to ask for, or expect too much. When money is tight, parents often give what a child needs, not necessarily what a child wants. To keep my list short, I only requested things that I truly wanted. It must have surprised my parents therefore when, almost every year, I included on my list (and got) the same thing--an Etch-A-Sketch. {This was a device whereby one could draw pictures on a screen by turning buttons, and erase the picture to start over again by turning it upside down and shaking it. I loved that toy, and was kept happily occupied for hours drawing with it, but it was always broken by the next Christmas —so I always requested another. }

It was therefore comforting to me, the first time I read the Christmas story, to realize that even though His Father had unlimited resources---Jesus Himself only received three gifts for Christmas. Now, for years I have read of the gifts of the magi and subconsciously thought —‘surely these were gifts He only needed: things picked out for Him by His Father, and not things He would have wanted for Himself.’ But when this thought rumbled about in my subconscious this year as I reread the story, it got me thinking:

Of course Jesus and His Father’s will are, and always have been, one. This means, therefore, that Jesus did get what he wanted. I wondered—‘how could that be—why would He have wanted such things?’ In meditating on the gifts themselves, I realized, not only did those gifts represent what Jesus once wanted as an infant—but they are His own ‘short list’ even now of what He wants us to bring Him whenever we approach Him. And He requests the same things year in and year out—because we always ‘break’ our gifts to Him: Myrrh, Frankincense & Gold.

             Myrrh is a resin from a small thorny tree species (Commiphora myrrha), that’s obtained by making deep cuts that cause the tree to ‘bleed’ sap. It was one of the items Joseph’s brothers took in trade for him (Genesis 37:25), was used in the holy anointing oil for High Priests and Kings in Israel (Exodus 30:23; 1 Samuel 10:1), was a perfume used by Esther in preparation for being brought into the King’s Presence (Esther 2:12) It was mixed with the wine (turning it bitter) offered to Jesus at the cross (Mk 15:23) (which He rejected since He’d told his disciples he wouldn’t drink wine again until he drank it new with them in the Kingdom), (Luke 22:18). It was purported to be the thorny branches used in Christ’s crown of thorns and thus represents the bitterness, suffering and affliction caused by sin—since thorns came into the perfect Garden only as a result of sin and rebellion. Myrrh was used as an embalming oil for burial, as it covered odors (John 19:39). It is also a healing balm used to disinfect, and cleanse wounds.

Frankincense is an aromatic resin obtained by the cutting of (in particular) the scraggy but hardy Boswellia sacra trees. The trees are tapped by slashing the bark, which is called ‘striping,’ and allowing the exuded resin to bleed out and harden. These hardened resins are called ‘tears’. Boswellia sacra trees are considered unusual for their ability to grow in environments so hostile, rugged, and unforgiving that they have the ability to grow where there is no soil; sometimes even growing out of solid rock. Therefore this tree is a symbol for resilience, strength and endurance. The initial means of attachment to the rock is unknown, but is accomplished by a bulbous disk-like swelling of the trunk. This growth prevents it from being ripped from the rock during violent storms. This feature is slight or absent in trees grown in rocky soil or gravel. Frankincense was another of the commodities traded in exchange for Joseph. (Gen 37:25 where it’s called ‘aromatic gum’) Frankincense was an important component of the services in the Temple in Jerusalem. It was one of the ingredients of the consecrated incenses offered on the sacred Altar of Incense. (Exodus 30:7-9; 34-38) and therefore, is an emblem of prayer. (Psalm 141:2) God commanded the priests to burn incense on the golden altar every morning and evening, the same time that the daily burnt offering were made. The incense was to be left burning continually throughout the day and night as a pleasing aroma to the Lord. Frankincense was also one of the ingredients in the perfume of the sanctuary (Exodus 30:34), and was used as an accompaniment of the meal-offering (Leviticus 2:1; 2:16; 6:15, 24:7) When burnt it emitted a fragrant odor, and the incense was a symbol of the Divine name (Malachi 1:11, Song of Solomon 1:3). It was often associated with myrrh. (Song of Solomon 3:6; 4:6). An especially "pure" kind, ‘lebhonah zakkah’, in Hebrew, was presented with the showbread (Leviticus 24:7)

Gold— Historically, the value of gold was rooted in its relative rarity, easy handling and minting, easy smelting and fabrication, resistance to corrosion and to most acids, etc. As a precious metal it’s been used for coinage, jewelry, and other arts throughout recorded history. Gold's high malleability, ductility, resistance to corrosion and most other chemical reactions, and conductivity of electricity have led to its continued use in corrosion resistant electrical connections in all types of computerized devices (its chief industrial use). In all ages, gold has served as an article and store of enduring value. Unlike silver, it is highly resistant to oxidation and corruption. It is soft and malleable, warm and beautiful, and holds its value over long periods of time even as other goods and commodities rise and fall. As such, gold has become a universal symbol of love. For example, gold is commonly used to make wedding rings, serving as a symbol of the love between the two partners. In a religious context, gold especially symbolizes spiritual and heavenly love—and, of course, divine love. That is why the most sacred articles of the Tabernacle were to be made of gold, overlaid with gold, or interwoven with gold (Exodus 25:10-40; 28:6-30; 30:1-10), and also why the streets of the New Jerusalem, are made of “gold as pure as glass” (Revelation 21:18,21).

 Christ’s Christmas list is so very short…shall we not give Him what he asks of us?

 We offer the heart of Jesus the healing balm of Myrrh, when we HUMBLE ourselves before him, coming into His Holy Presence, realizing & acknowledging he was sold into bondage in our place and died on our behalf, that He wore the crown of thorns for our sake and acknowledge Him as our King and High Priest. As such, we now willingly agree to die to our self-wills and accept the bitterness, suffering and afflictions of this life which will come to us, as we enter into the fellowship of His sufferings. Such humbling brings us to the Blood of Christ, represented by the bleeding sap—which will cover, cleanse and disinfect the stench of our sin before Him.

We offer Christ the gift of Frankincense when we CONSECRATE our service and sanctify our hearts for consistent COMMUNION with Him. Once we are Christ’s, the Holy Spirit will show us those things that are not in keeping with Christ’s will for us, and will gently show us what needs to be ‘stripped’ from our lives. Despite our tears, we must remain consecrated to Christ regardless of the cost or what storms may assail us. We are to cling to Him and commune with Him in constant prayer, even when there is nothing else on earth to support us; and He will strengthen us and enable us to endure to the end. As His priests we are to intercede for those He has brought around us, sharing His Love and Gospel truth with them, and bring their needs to Him. As such, our prayers will be a soothing aroma before Him—well pleasing in His sight. (2 Corinthians 5:9; 1 Peter 2:5) By clinging to Him in obedience, He will keep us from being torn from our Rock in any storm we may have to go through. We offer all we do with the sweet aroma of Frankincense of the Name of Jesus—though whom only are our sacrifices pleasing to God.

We offer our Beloved Bridegroom the Precious gift of Gold when we express our FAITH & TRUST in Him by allowing His Divine Love to rule in our hearts. When His Love abides within us, we will find ourselves to be easily molded to His will, able to both receive his Word as well as conduct it to others without the corruption of our own acid influences. Our manner will be soft and warm, even when correcting those who oppose God. He will be able to more fully stamp His Image upon our lives, making us a rare jewel in His crown. Our hearts’ deepest LOVE is what Jesus yearns for and deserves, and our trust in Him is what will most perfectly expresses it.

             As for myself, I have but a single wish this Christmas—and this year, it is not for an Etch-A-Sketch: That God would fulfill the following verse in the lives of all of us….

 “In this you greatly rejoice, even though now, for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, that the proof of your faith, being MORE precious than gold, which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ…” (1 Peter 1:7)

Merry Christmas to you all

                Joann

December 2016 Christmas Letter

“But as for you, Bethlehem-Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel.  His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity…”

                                                                                      (Micah 5:2  NASB)

                                                                                                December 10, 2016

    I have always found it interesting that the Christmas story in Matthew actually begins with His geneology. “The book of the geneology of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham…” (Matthew 1:1). I was recently  working on my own family geneology  and was amazed as I considered all those who came before me, in order to get to me. Who were these people, and what did they have to go through, in making me the unique person I am today? Some were born in France, others Ireland, England and many in Quebec. One woman was from the nobility in Canada and was disowned for marrying a commoner, etc. All had their own unique story and place in my history. 

   The genealogy of Jesus Christ is different, however. For, though Matthew’s version of it (Matt chpt 1) traces him back to prove he is the son of Abraham  & David --and thus in line to be the rightful Messiah, Luke’s version of His genealogy  (Luke chptr 3) actually traces Him all the way back to Adam, and declares Him the Son of God.  So, who we are from is important. Where we are from also makes us who we are as well. Jesus was born in Bethlehem. The same Bethlehem-Ephrathah that Micah told us was the ‘runt’ of the clans of Judah. I like that. God has often chosen the ‘runts’ of the world to accomplish his purposes—those whom others consider not even worth mentioning—who they may even want to disown for being different.  When the prophet Nathan was sent to anoint the new King of Israel, David’s father and brothers were so sure he didn’t matter, that they did not even call him in from caring for the sheep, for the ceremony.  You can imagine their surprise then when it turned out God wanted ‘the runt’ of the lot to rule over them—over all Israel!! So when the Christmas story tells us that Jesus was ‘born in Bethlehem’, it is telling us, that God has once again chosen the runt—that Jesus deliberately became the runt among His own people, Israel, to come to the world and make all men know they matter with God! No one is insignificant to Him. We are all desired by Him! Hallelujah! 

   But who we are, and where we are from, is not the most important thing about us; nor is our occupation, regardless how lofty a position we may hold. Nicodemus, was the head Rabbi/teacher of all Israel when he was told by Jesus what the most important thing was for a man, as he approached Christ secretly by night to inquire of Him. Jesus told him the real secret of Christmas, the real secret of a successful and fulfilling life: “You must be born again.” Nicodemus responded much like you probably are—“what do you mean by that? How can one be born a second time?” Jesus explained that, there is a spiritual birth a man must have before he not only understands spiritual things, but also before He can be received into heaven. For, just as the Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary, his mother, and brought Him to her womb, so too, must the Holy Spirit come upon our own hearts and bring forth a new birth within us—that Christ must be formed within us, be ‘born’ in us, creating us as ‘new creatures’ (2 Cor 5:17). Paul tells us in Colossians 1:26-27 that this is “the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations; but has now been made manifest to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the Glory of this mystery among the Gentiles—which is: CHRIST IN YOU, the hope of glory!”

    This is the most important thing about a man—has he been born again? Has he received the very Life of Jesus Christ within his heart, and been born of the Holy Spirit? Not, ‘is he a member of the Church’; nor ‘is he a Bible teacher’---for Nicodemus was all of those things already; in fact was he was the CHIEF of those things in Israel---yet Jesus told him that it was simply not enough….Jesus told him “You MUST be born again!” It wasn’t optional. It was the only way back to reconciliation with God the Father; that way which our father Adam had lost for all of us when he fell in Eden. But God had sent His Son Jesus to Bethlehem, and then to Calvary, to provide the way for us to return to Him—to provide the way to restore us to Himself, and the glories of heaven. . . Christmas is about Jesus being born the first time in Bethlehem. But it is also about His coming to provide the way for our own second birth-- into His Kingdom.

    So this Christmas I tell you a mystery---a secret that most will never understand---you must be born again, you CAN be born again!!—and I ask you---have you been ‘born again’?? There is nothing a man can do to make such a birth happen, any more than he did the first time he was born. “The wind blows where it will” Jesus told us. We can no more control the Holy Spirit than we can the wind. We must wait upon His coming—watch for Him, long for Him—but do so expectantly---knowing He will indeed come to us in His own time. What we must do while we wait is humble ourselves before Him; admit we are not worthy to receive His pure life within us—admit we do not deserve to be a part of his people---yet tell Him we do long to be restored to Him. We must confess our sinfulness to Him, and cry out for the deliverance that Jesus died to bring to us…Call upon the Holy Spirit to come into your heart this Christmas, and give you the New Life that Christ died to bring to you. Call upon Him; Cry out to Him, and do not give up until you can truly say in all sincerity that he has indeed had mercy on your soul and been born in you!

     YOU are meant to be the ‘Little Town of Bethlehem’; the runt that God does not want to overlook, or cast out. The original hymn “O Little Town of Bethlehem” had 10 verses. (see below for the link to all 10 verses)  However verses 6 & 9 especially make my point this Christmas. I pray you will indeed ‘receive’ the gift that God has sent you this Christmas, and be born again.    


No ear may hear His coming,
But in this world of sin
Where meek souls will receive Him
Still the dear Christ enters in….

O Holy Child of Bethlehem
Descend to us, we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in
Be born in us today!

Here is the link to the 10 original verses…     and Merry Christmas!!    Joann

http://www.songlyrics.com/traditional/o-little-town-of-bethlehem-lyrics/              

Window Shopping

 

 

These are the things I wonder
As I gaze through the window of your world--
watching your lives unfold before me
from the outside:

What does it feel like to have a man say
"I love you"--and really mean it
To have him NOT want to walk away;
to hear the heartfelt proposal you've hoped for?

What's it like to feel a new, separate, life
move within you
or hear the cry of your own creation
and see your reflection in a child's face?

What is it like to have a man come home to you
who considers you his home---
more than the house?
to have someone willing to work his fingers to the bone
--just to see you smile?

What is it like to have an anniversary
that you share with another person; to be a part of an 'us';
and no longer just a me, myself, or I?

When you are scared --to be able to roll over
and find someone's arms to hide in
or cry in--and not be made to feel foolish for having needs?

I wonder if, when you look through my windows
if you ever wonder -- what it is to be confined
to a lifetime of solitude; a lifetime of longing--
--of unfulfillment. A LIFETIME!
Do you know what it is to ache for a child that will never be
as you stand cursing yours, for irritating you? 

Can you comprehend the frustration of such a woman--
watching you disrespect your man--
your imperfect gift from God?
Some of us would settle gladly for imperfect husbands,
for spoiled-rotten, ungrateful children.
Some of us would be glad
to have the heartache of really living
and not merely existing.

These are things I wonder,
as I sit at home alone
watching my TV
and petting my cats....

~Joann Longton~
September 19, 2016

How have the Mighty Fallen!



My parents on their 68th anniversary


 Originally written on August 24, 2014 upon the passing of my wonderful father into eternity
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To all my wonderful family---

Today we lost our father, our grandfather, our great-grandfather, our in-law, etc.  Though few can suspect it yet, who are not related to us, the world has also lost a great soul as well. I do not mean great in the typical way the world counts greatness—he left behind few possessions; he never managed to acquire much wealth that wasn’t already owed to someone else somewhere, and he never lead any army into military battle etc. However he was great in CHARACTER. Great in the way the world deeply longs for greatness-- but rarely sees. Great in that he reflected to the world, and especially to those of us who knew him best, more of the Image of God than most of us have found elsewhere in our travels. Things like FAITHFULNESS, HONOR, HUMILITY, TRUSTWORTHINESS, DEPENDABILITY, COMPASSION, PATIENCE, KINDNESS; all wrapped up in a servant’s heart.  Many men possess some or a few of these qualities in good measure. But we were blessed to find them all residing in him at once. That is why so many of us struggled with the pain of not being able to have as much time or develop as much of a relationship with him as we wanted—we felt cheated to have to share him with so many others when we needed him more for ourselves. But he was only one man. How one man was able to divide himself among so many needy little people without losing his mind is astounding to contemplate. He did it though--by never taking time for himself. Rare were the fishing trips that, even there, he didn’t have to take someone with him for company. But he didn’t complain. He merely used it as time to give us even more of himself than we were normally able to get. He stayed with his wife FAR, FAR beyond the limits that most of us—even the ones who love their spouses the most—could have or would have endured. Why?-- I asked him that once. He told me that when he made his wedding vows he knew he was not making them merely to my mother, but to God as well; and that even if he could walk away from my Mom, he could never walk away from God, and still have his honor. He intended to keep his vows until death as he had promised. And so he did.

I could stop writing right there and it is enough to meditate on for the rest of our lives. But he was so much more. He had such a big heart---such a reflection of God’s welcoming love. He didn’t care or hardly noticed that some of his grandkids were bi-racial, or mentally challenged etc. They were just his grandkids; “the kids” he called them. They were all his, and he loved them all dearly. If you were related to him you can be completely assured that he prayed for you on a regular basis. That he worried over you when you were having difficulty. That if he was able, he would sell what he needed to keep himself, in order to get money to keep you out of jail, or from being evicted. He never complained that it meant he was paying the consequences for your actions---because he loved you. It was just something he regarded as his role as your relative. In this also he reflected to us the heart of God, who paid the ultimate consequence for our mess, in sending his Son Jesus to die to set us free.

I believe in eternal security today. I believe God will always forgive me and stand by me. Why—merely because the Bible says so? No. That should be enough. But I have the added benefit as my father’s daughter of having had his living example: If my dad, a husband who was mistreated and hurt many times over by his bride could always love her forgive her, and restore her despite herself, being only a mere man—HOW MUCH MORE can the heart of God be faithful to me who has walked such a crooked path to his kingdom? No, God will receive me there with open arms, just as he has happily welcomed my dad today; with the loving, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant”. May we his family all follow him there, by shining forth that same Image of the Glory of God to the world we have been left behind in. He would be praying for nothing less now from those of us left on earth, who have been blessed to bear his name.         You’ll always have my heart, daddy…..




He could always take my heart of stone and melt it with his love
 



God still has HIS Men

This is shared from my Facebook page
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BILL WILLARD---I want to share with the whole world what a wonderful man you are!
50 years ago, my sister married THE most wonderful man. Bill Willard came into our family when there were a lot of problems and chaos. His coming led to his younger brother Bob (ALSO a wonderful man) meeting and marrying my next older sister Nancy. Together they shephered us kids and even also helped to guide our parents to greener, safer pastures. I was 8 years old when Bill came. What a wonderful influence he has been on our entire family! Known as "Uncle Bill" to probably hundreds of people, and just beloved "Mr Bill" to so many others...he is loved by thousands, and all who know him. He helped to lead me to Christ when I was only 18 and has been better than 10 brothers could have been to me my entire life. When I left home at 19 it was he and Pat who took me in until I could afford to support myself. And many siblings since can say the same of either Bill & Pat or Bob and Nancy who also housed many of us at one time or another. He started a "Good Neighbor" backyard Bible club that was so popular in our little, poverty stricken neighborhood that he had to continue it year round in his basement once the summer was over. Then he bought a little bus and used to drive all those kids to church. So many kids were saved and follow Christ today as a result! He and Pat at one point built a 3 bedroom addition onto their house so they could take in a family of 3 kids, whose Mother was being counseled by Pat in the local jail, so they could be brought to visit her more often; as they lived too far away from her otherwise. They parented them for several years until she got out and lived near them until she could get on her feet again and get her kids back. At one point they had 7 foster kids along with their beloved son Chris. They later blessed our family by adopting 2 of them, and giving them that good Willard name. I could go on and on---part owner of the local Christian bookstore for years, they used a lot of the profit to help the needy in the area anonymously (I found out by accident) (Did you get a new washing machine and didn't know where it came from---it was probably from the Cornerstone Bookstore!) He left a massive hole in the heart of eastern CT when he moved to Texas. He had personally begun the Care and Share soup kitchen and food programs in our area that are still active 20 years later-- helping the poor and unfortunate in their time of need--which won him the prestigious Diamond Award for community service. And a diamond he surely has been and shown as in our lives. He moved to Texas and again became the heart of the church he is a part of. Being named an elder---but still the deep heart of a Deacon, he has served the elderly in the soup kitchens there, become 'Papa' to a little girl there who had no father ---and who has blessed and comforted his own heart after the death of his son Christopher. When my parents became unable to live at home anymore a few years ago, he gave up his den and his own private space with his wife, and took them in and cared for them lovingly and devotedly until they each passed away peacefully in his home last summer. Last summer he was still (at 70) out every day in the hot Texas sun mowing lawns for the elderly near him who had no one else to help them....

 

Friends THIS is what a godly man looks like! Humble, caring, and always smiling with the Joy of the Lord in his heart. Devoted loving heart, serving the needy with gladness.. WELL DONE thou blessed man of God! How we all Love you and bless you and wish you the HAPPIEST OF BIRTHDAYS this day! We are SO VERY GLAD God brought you into our world, and made us a part of your blessed Life!!!

The Prodigal Daughter

               (written awhile ago--I decided to post it on my blog today hoping it might help someone else)

     

     I  found out recently that a young woman I know had had an abortion. Her father almost upset me more by his reaction, than the deed itself did. So intent upon being sure he was seen as excluded from any guilt in the situation, he avoided her altogether, when she went to his house—and he went to someone else’s house to avoid all ‘contact’ with her. It was good, in a way; in that it kept him from speaking his immediate mind; however, it was the ‘immediate mind’ that troubled me….

When we sinned, God did not distance Himself from us, or avoid us when we turned to Him. He took our yoke, our sin, upon Himself; entered into our humanness, became one with us, and bore the penalty for our sin—as if He Himself had committed it.

Instead of being ashamed of us, like this father was with his daughter, He ‘despised the shame ’(i) and ‘was not ashamed to call us brethren’(ii) . He, who was perfectly pure and sinless, did not shrink from us in our deepest sin; but, stooping low, He identified with us---in order to lift us out of it…. How beautiful is the Love of such a Father!

One of the most amazing passages in Scripture, is the story of the woman caught in adultery. (iii) In a world where women have (traditionally) been despised for having relations outside of marriage—most women, when reading the story for the first time, fully expect Jesus to turn the woman over to the angry mob, and call for her stoning, Himself. What AMAZING GRACE dawns upon the heart of every woman however, when this Man of Sorrows, who’s so acquainted with our grief, not only does NOT condemn her, (as most men would have), but actually turns his gaze upon the sin of the mob, which was calling for her blood (as if they were not also capable of the very same sin, or worse!) ‘…Herein is Love!--- NOT, that we loved God…’(iv); NOT that we were sinless; NOT that we were worthy— Oh!, but that HE, Sinless, Pure and SOLELY Worthy of adoration, loved US---in the very MIDST of our sin; and took it upon Himself, to enter into our heartache—into our condition, and redeem us in the midst of our guilt!!!

That man missed his greatest teaching opportunity as a father today, when he did not stay home to receive the daughter who came to him in her shame. She was given a distorted view of God by his self-centered action….. I love the stories Jesus told in this regard! The prodigal son returned in shame,--but did his father avoid him, hiding out at someone’s house in an attempt to control his self-righteous anger? NO!! We are told by the Scriptures “…the father RAN…”(v)  to meet his son. Even before the son had repented, the father had already determined to gladly receive him!

Oh! How we misjudge the heart of God, when we assume he is as selfish and unmerciful as men are! How WONDERFUL to find that He, knowing full-well that we are deserving of His condemnation, turns His gaze upon our accusers, and dares ANY to condemn, whom God Himself has determined to forgive! ----What wretches we are to ever grow cold, or ungrateful of such a Love!!!

---

[i] Heb 12:2

[ii] Heb 2:11

[iii] John 8:1-11

[iv] 1 John 4:10

[v] Luke 15:20

 

"For Thy Sake...", Oh Lord...--Christmas 2013

                                                                                                                                                                                  December 8. 2013

 

“…And in the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flocks by night. And an Angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them…and it came about, when the angel had gone away...the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go…and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us…and when they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds…and the shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God…” (Luke 2: 8-9a, 15a, c, 17-18, 20a)

     Apart from using them as props in our annual plays, we often completely overlook the shepherds in the Christmas story. I have been thinking about them the last few days, however. What exactly do we know about them from the text? Well, that they were faithful, self-sacrificing men; sleeping in the cold, open air to care for their defenseless flocks. They were favored men; chosen by God to be the very first ones, in all of history, to hear the good news of our Savior’s birth. Their actions proved they were men of faith; quickly responding to the Word of the Lord told them by the Angel. They were also the world’s first evangelists; who could not contain the wonderful, joyous news they had been entrusted with and which they themselves had found to be true. Finally, they were worshipers; the kind the Scriptures tell us God eagerly seeks, ‘…who worship in Spirit and in Truth” (John 4:23), In short, apart from the Holy parents, they were the very first Christians. And so, it must follow that, after these things, life was ‘lived happily ever after’ by them, once they became Christians, right? Oh-- wait a minute...is that what the Bible says? Let’s continue on and see what happened…

 “…Then when Herod, saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent and slew all the male children in Bethlehem and in its environs, from two years old and under…’a voice was heard…weeping and great mourning…refus(ing) to be comforted because (the children) were no more….” (Matthew 2: 16a, 18b)

      These men-- these faithful, Godly, and trusting men, had their most beloved little boys, the sheep of their very bosoms, ALL slaughtered by Herod; merely because the Savior had favored them by being born in their midst… This horrific, holocaustic event is known in Church history as “The Slaughter of the Innocents”.   HOW could this God of Glory, who had just revealed to them the truth that their new King and Savior had finally come into the world—had come to THEM!—how could He have allowed such an unspeakable abomination to take place? How could He tell them one day of His love and care, and shortly thereafter let all Hell break loose upon them? Their grief had to be absolutely paralyzing…Yet, I wonder--once they regained their senses---did they seek out their new King to inquire of Him and his parents the one blazing question every parent would want to SHOUT at them,“WHY-- MY GOD—WHY”??? If they had done so, they would have surely gotten yet another great shock--Their King was GONE!! He had vanished as quickly as He had come. Had He abandoned them in the hour they needed Him most? Had it all been just a bad dream? Were they losing their minds? Surely they would have struggled with these doubts….And what about us? Surely we must wonder—how could God consider it ‘just’ to spare His own Son, while allowing everyone else’s to be killed by Herod?  These are some of the things I have been thinking about as I pondered the Christmas story this year…

      It is true…God did indeed spare his own Son…hid Him away, safely sheltered in Egypt, while his earthly relatives’ hearts were breaking.  It is true, He did indeed allow this slaughter to take place—against the very ones who had responded so joyfully to the Gospel message—against the most innocent of them—the children of the covenant...

       I was unable to find any evidence that Jesus ever returned to Bethlehem. I thought about this, and wondered why God had instead, sent Him to Nazareth to live. Think about it. Jesus was the only boy left from that generation from that entire home town region. He would have always stood out as a painful, daily, reminder to the other mothers and fathers around him, of the terror of that day. There would probably have been great jealousy towards his parents that their son had somehow miraculously survived the attack—and they probably would have blamed them for the murders, knowing he must have been the one that Herod had been searching for. Also, however, had he gone back to Bethlehem, He never would have been able to have the normal, quiet, childhood that the Scriptures  (from their silence regarding  his youth) seem to indicate He had. He would have been the talk of the region. The laying of the foundation of His young life, however, was far too important for God to allow anything to interfere with His Plan for Jesus. So, on to Nazareth they went: a quiet Jewish upbringing in the Law, in the carpenter’s trade-- all the while on a hillside somewhere in Israel, a Tree was growing that also was planned for a Purpose…

     Yes, God had indeed spared his only Son that day in Bethlehem, but only for a future, more horrific slaughter: The Slaughter of the One and Only Truly ‘Innocent’ the world has ever known. God the Father preserved Jesus that day, only for Him to later be slaughtered by the same government which had slaughtered the sons of Bethlehem. He had been spared that day, however, because He had something which had to be accomplished first: He had to live the only Perfect Life of obedience toward God which has ever been lived; something that is required of all of us, but which we have been unable to do because of our sinful nature. Only THEN would this One, Pure, Unblemished Sheep be ready to be slaughtered— in our place –as our Passover Lamb. To be our scapegoat; bearing away the guilt of all our sins—for all eternity. This is why the Apostle Paul tells us later in Scripture: God “…did NOT spare his own Son, but offered Him up for us all…” (Romans 8:32)

     Paul further goes on to speak of those who have received the Son of God into their hearts to be born within them, who are the faithful , chosen, worshippers and evangelists of the  King of the Universe—those known as Christians: “…For Thy sake we are…considered as sheep to be slaughtered…” (Romans 8:36) We are all ‘His brothers from Bethlehem’…completely in His wise, loving and nail-scarred hands; to be disposed of at His bidding, and for His greater Glory. Because, like his little cousins, “…we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture...” (Psalm 100:3c) You see, there was another Shepherd ‘keeping watch over his flock by night’ on that hillside in Bethlehem. “The Lord is our Shepherd’, ‘…the Good Shepherd, (who) lays down His life for His sheep…” (Ps 23:1; John 10:11)

                        In this story, we are taught some important truths:

 

 1) Herod showed a small measure of the depths of depravity to which the human heart has fallen since Eden—depravity which resides in each of us, to one degree or another. (Cain slew Abel, his brother; Herod however, slaughtered the children of the ‘brothers’ of our Lord.)

2) It is an awesome, fearful thing for God Himself to draw near to us—to be called His own; yet, it is a privilege beyond all measure, and one we should gladly sacrifice our lives for; if called upon to do so.

3) The devil sets his face against all who would receive the Savior, allowing Him into ‘their midst’.  As a type of AntiChrist, Herod warns us that we should know our lives are expendable as God sees fit.

4) Finally, and most importantly: though terrible, painful things sometimes do happen to even the best and most faithful of men, God has NOT abandoned us, but is “Emmanuel’—i.e ‘God with us’. Like the Good Shepherd He is, He has gone before us, into whatever tragedy He may ask us to bear for his own wise reasons-- which we may not understand--, and will tenderly care for us in our trial, as we turn to Him.

 

There IS a PLAN. It IS good, All SHALL be well. Our Savior has already defeated the greatest ‘AntiChrist’, and won’t be surprised or out-done by his lesser minions….

We can rest, even in our trials knowing Jesus IS Lord, and REIGNS SUPREME in all the Universe. Hallelujah!

 

Merry Christmas,

Come Lord Jesus, your Second Advent is longed for by all who love you!

 

   

      This past year or so has thrown me a lot of curveballs. I returned from Texas in July 2012, after deciding, with my family’s blessing, that Texas just was not the place for me, at least at this time in my life. I continued working and saving towards the home I hoped to buy and settle down in, in CT. I finally found it and moved in July 19, 2013. On Sept 19, 2013, just as I was leaving for vacation (to go back to Texas and give Pat a break) I was terminated from my job for reasons I dispute, but won’t go into here, as the story is too long. I have, thankfully, been able to obtain and receive unemployment during this time, and can testify that all my bills are paid in full at this writing. However, I have found that the job market for LPNs in my region has shifted to now being mainly an ‘RN only’ environment –and the local hospital just last week went out on strike --releasing hundreds of RNs into the marketplace for me to compete for jobs with. I have, so far, only been able to find a ‘per diem’ position, supplemented by unemployment. But God is faithful……I do, however, covet your prayers for a stable and Good position (that pays enough for all my bills) to open up for me before my unemployment benefits run out. (Late April at this point)—or for God to do whatever else He plans, to provide for my needs.

     The Herods in our lives, have tremendous authority and power over us, and can do tremendous damage to what we hold dearest, if the Lord releases them to do so as part of His mysterious Will.  But I take solace in the knowledge that, though I am not one of the ‘innocent’, I am His sheep, at His disposal, not 'Herod’s', my ex-boss's or the devil's; myself, and all I am, belong to God. If He wants me to lose the house, my car, my reputation: it is all in His hands. If He wants me to be in the unemployment line as His hands and His feet, ‘Here I am Lord’.  What the future holds, in this world, I do not know. But I am HIS. I, therefore, know where eternity will be spent: In HIS house, in HIS chariot, praising HIS reputation!!

Let the devil do his worst—Jesus is VICTOR!

 

Love, Joann