At Christmas time Becky and I have always enjoyed decorating. We happen to be one of those couples who both love collecting and displaying all types of seasonal Christmas treasures. So, it is not surprising that we have nativity scenes from many different nations, and particularly from African countries, since we lived there for so many years. Each one reminds me that Jesus came as Immanuel, God-With-Us, the Savior of people like you and me all over the world. From the humble shepherds kneeling near our Lord’s manger bed, to the lordly Wise Men presenting their gifts; everyone in a manger scene looks to Jesus, who is the center of God’s bold and loving incarnation as an humble child born in Bethlehem to show the whole world just how much He loves them.

 

If Only

If only I were a shepherd
in the fields ‘round Bethlehem
and could listen to the angels
proclaiming glory in the heavens
and great good news on earth;
if only I could rush with them
through those dusty, quiet streets
and stoop with them to enter
the lonely stable where Jesus
lay now resting after His birth
in the arms of faithful Mary
under guard by steady Joseph;
and share their wondrous moment
when kneeling by His manger
they gazed down upon His face,
their Lord and their Messiah
born here in their hometown.

If only I were a wise man
on a roof in an eastern land
gazing deep into the heavens
searching for God’s great sign,
trusting in His Providence
believing in His design,
rejoicing as they discovered
His star proclaiming
universally a great king’s birth,
then packing up their camels
following this brightest star’s
direction over hills and deserts
till they arrived in Jerusalem,
leaving behind King Herod
traveling to Bethlehem,
discovering God’s own Son,
the King for all their hearts,
new hope for all their souls.

Well, I can share like shepherds
my joy in finding the Lord,
God come down from Heaven,
resting in a manger bed,
I can declare like shepherds
as the angel announced to them
this great good news of joy,
our Messiah has come to town;
I can follow like the wise men
seeking this wondrous King
whose star appeared in Heaven,
sign of hope for all the world,
I can see through every Herod,
keep following to Bethlehem
and find my Lord eternal
and worship with all my heart,
I can tell my town His story,
I can kneel and worship Him.

M.S.
December 9, 2019

And the shepherds returned,
glorifying and praising God
for all they had heard and seen,
as it had been told them.
Luke 2:20

When they saw the star,
they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
And going into the house,
they saw the child with Mary his mother,
and they fell down and worshiped him.
Then, opening their treasures,
they offered him gifts,
gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Matthew 2: 10-11