Consider Job

 Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Job 13:15a (NKJV)

Job is probably one of the least read books of the Bible but consider Job for just a moment.  He's living the American dream with a wife, ten children, a nice home, lots of cattle (that would be a bank account in our terms), and lots of servants. We know people who seem to live that life. We sometimes tend to be a little envious of them. But what if, like Job, everything was suddenly taken away?

Disaster struck and Job lost all his cattle. War took his wealth. We all have friends and family, maybe even ourselves who have lost jobs or homes or both. Some have even lost their comfortable lives because of war. 

Then a natural disaster, a great wind struck Job's children. They were all killed. Again, we or family or friends have experienced hurricanes, tornadoes, or fires. 

What more could Job have suffered? God allowed Satan to take Job's health. It's hard to watch someone suffering with their health and no one can help. 

Then Job's marriage took a nose dive. All these disasters affected his wife as well as Job. She was ready to just give up and die. No, more than give up, she told Job to curse God and die. But Job saw the bigger picture. He admonished his wife for foolish talk. He understood everything he had was a gift from God, his wealth, his children, his health, and his wife. 

Job understood that the grave wasn't the end. 

For I know that my Redeemer lives,

And He shall stand at last on the earth;

26 

And after my skin is destroyed, this I know,

That in my flesh I shall see God,

27 

Whom I shall see for myself,

And my eyes shall behold, and not another.

How my heart yearns within me!

Job 19: 25-27 NKJV

I see those who struggle with income disasters for one reason or another, yet their faith is strong.
I see those who have lost a child or children yet their faith is strong.
I see those who have lost their health yet their faith is strong.
I see those who struggle in their marriage yet their faith is strong.

How can they maintain their faith? Just as Job did. Their faith in Jesus as their Savior and Lord helps them face each day. They know that whether they live or die they are winners either way because Jesus has a place prepared for them that is better than anything they have seen or can imagine. I know that salvation as well. 

Heavenly Father, we know our lives are full of trouble and our days are in your hands. I thank You for the promise of eternal salvation because of the gift of Your Son who died in my place. Father, may I keep the faith until the whole world knows. In Jesus's name. Amen. 

For God so Loved

 

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

I'll tell this the way it was told to me, though I am sure others would disagree with the story, surely no one will disagree with the message. So grab a candy cane and enjoy this sweet tale of Christmas with the whole family.

In the seventh century, when kings and queens declared and enforced the laws with the sword, a law was made that Christmas would no longer be celebrated. It broke the heart of an old candy maker who loved to see the smiles of children as they enjoyed his sweet Christmas treats. He also loved the telling of the Christmas story in churches and homes.  No one was allowed to own or read a Bible except the priests and now that was questionable under the rule of this queen. He wondered how this generation would grow up without the knowledge of Jesus if the laws forbade the telling of the story.

As the old candy maker locked his doors for the evening and knelt by his counter for prayer, the Lord gave him an idea. It was not illegal to make new kinds of candy and he knew just what kind of new candy he would make.

All night the candy maker tweaked his candy recipes to fit the story of Jesus. As the new day dawned he set out for his shop anxious to get a start on his new candy. He would start with pure white candy and spice it with peppermint. Then he would layer it with red candy, making a pattern of a wide red stripe and three thin red stripes. As he rolled and twisted the hardening candy, he sliced off lengths of candy and bent them into a crook at the top. The next day would be Christmas and he would be ready to share his Christmas story. 

As families entered his shop the next day with faces long and sad because of the canceled holiday, he offered them a new candy and an old story. "See this crook?" he said. "On a night long ago, shepherds stood on a hillside watching their flock by night. Angels announced the birth of a baby born to a virgin. The baby was pure and sinless like the white of this candy cane. His father is God the Father. The baby is the Son of God and He would give us the Holy Spirit." The old candy maker pointed to the three thin stripes going around the candy cane. "The baby was to be called Jesus." The candy maker turned the cane upside down, making the J. "The big red stripe," he said. "stands for the blood Jesus shed on Calvary for our sins. Taste the candy now children. The peppermint reminds us of the gifts the wise men brought to Jesus and the spices used to prepare His body for burial when He died upon the cross." The candy maker followed the large red stripe around the cane as he continued his story.  "His blood covers our sins and offers forgiveness. This, children, is the real story of Christmas, not the toys and candy, but the coming of the Savior of the world as a baby in a manger. Not just visited by shepherds and wise men but to be our Shepherd, who gives us eternal life in Christ."

The parents were grateful their children were able to hear the Christmas story that morning and take home a reminder of the true meaning of the season. 

Now, as you receive a candy cane, examine it for the three thin stripes, the large stripe, the taste of peppermint, and the pure white candy that makes the body of the cane. Turn it to make the J and the shepherd's crook. Now it's your turn to share the gift of Christmas with others. 

Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of your Son to die for our sins so that we may have eternal life through Jesus Christ. In Jesus's name. Amen.

Picture credit to Pixabay.com

Legend of The Candy Cane - Sacred Literature Ministries, Taylors, SC

Celebrate and Worship

 

But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me:

 for of such is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 19:14

Children never cease to amaze me. The last week of school we celebrated Hanukkah and Christmas around the world. We compared the customs of other countries to the way we celebrate Christmas. We played dreidel games and used our five senses to enjoy the sweet smells and tastes of Christmas. 

On the last day, we traced and cut stars, adding streamers and handles for our parade. One of our teachers is from the Philippines, so we decided to do a Filipino parade, winding through the classroom singing and searching for the Christ child. I had placed our cradle and one of the baby boys from our home living center in a corner at the front of the classroom. Nothing had changed about the look of the baby or the cradle. 

The children knew that a Filipino parade was to symbolize the wise men looking for the Christ child. As the parade came to an end, the children began to squeal and kneel down. "The baby Jesus! The baby Jesus!" There had been no prompting for their exclamations. I understood then, the wonder and worship in a child's heart.

Thinking back about the things I observed this Christmas with the children I remember how they refused to visit Santa, how they cried just seeing a man dressed in red sitting on the stage. There was no thrill or wonder for these four-year-olds but when they traveled with their stars and came to a cradle manger there was wonder and amazement. There was joy. There was faith that the Christ child was given for us that first Christmas. 

Heavenly Father, may we all see Christmas with the eyes of a child this year, fresh eyes of faith and wonder, at the child who was given to save us from our sins. In Jesus's name, we pray. Amen

Hanukkah and Christmas

And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. John 10:22,23

What does the feast of dedication have to do with Christmas? Could it be that we wouldn't have Christmas if there had not been a Hanukkah? 

I'm certainly not an authority on Hanukkah but I think I have a grasp on the gist of the story. Really everything in Jewish history has an effect on Christmas. If Adam and Eve had not sinned in the garden there would have been no need for Christmas or Calvary. It all started at the Beginning. God told Eve that it would be her seed that would bruise Satan's head and that Satan would bruise His heel.

All through history, Satan has tried to destroy God's people so Christmas would never come. Think about Abraham and Isaac. Imagine an old man over 100 years old, tying up a teenager to offer the teen as a burnt sacrifice. Isaac could have easily broken away and run like crazy. But no, Isaac was obedient to his father, even as Jesus was obedient to His Father, even unto death. God spared Isaac's life because he couldn't die for our sins. But the Father did not spare His only Son. While we were yet sinners Christ died for us. Without God's love, there would be no Christmas. 

Think about Esther. God put her through tragic events to make her the queen who would save her people. If Haman had won, the Jews would have been destroyed. There would have been no special people to receive God's Son. There would be no Christmas.

Think about Hanukkah. The Greeks had come in to change the culture of the Hebrews to the Greek culture, language and religion. A pig was sacrificed on the temple altar. The brave family of the Maccabees fought for Israel and the temple. They cleansed the temple but there was only enough oil to light the lamp for one night. It would take a week to make more oil. They demonstrated their faith and love by reclaiming the temple and lighting the lamp. God demonstrated His love and power by keeping the lamp burning for eight days while the oil was being made.
What would have happened if the Maccabees had not reclaimed the temple? The religion of the true God would have been destroyed. There would have been no Christmas.

Think about King Herod's attempt to kill the baby Jesus by killing all the children under two years old. If Joseph had not listened to God and taken Jesus to Egypt, there would have been no Calvary, no sacrifice for our sins. There would be no salvation. 

Even to this day, Satan attempts to end Christianity. Satan knows his time is short. No matter what we see on the news, be reassured, God is not dead nor doth He sleep. He is in control. God wins. There is forgiveness and salvation because there is Christmas. 

Heavenly Father, thank you for overthrowing every plan of Satan from the beginning. Thank you for placing each person, Abraham, Isaac, Esther, the Maccabees, and Joseph in the right place at the right time. Father, we know you have placed each of us here for such a time as this. May we be like those who were obedient to you even in the face of death. In Jesus's name. Amen. 

A Children's Advent

 

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:7

So many things compete for our children's attention. We need to be purposeful even in the things we intend for enjoyment. There is certainly nothing wrong with enjoying time spent teaching our children. I recently ordered M is for Manger by Crystal Bowman and Teri McKinley. My grandchildren came to help decorate the tree and set up the nativity scene on the coffee table. Our youngest loves to pretend with figurines so she moved the people and animals around several times until she was satisfied she had them placed just right. Then the girls settled down to read. They chose M is for Manger. The oldest is nine. She read it alone. The little one "read" the pictures. Then I sat down to read the book to her. She made it all the way to V is for Village until she got sleepy. Then she jumped up and ran over to the tree to check on the decorations so she could stay awake! Even children are purposeful in their actions. 

My grandchildren and I found the pictures to be inviting. The words are easy for young readers and listeners and carry the message in rhyme. There is also a scripture on each page to connect the story. As I read the book I tried to think how I could use it to make a lasting memory of scripture since so much of Christmas now revolves around the secular.

One of the ways I thought to use the book is to make it an advent story, reading one page of the story each day and then creating something from the page to hang on the tree.  Pinterest is full of Advent crafts for those of us who need a little help. The first page is A is for Angel. A child with the help of an adult could easily make an angel. B is for Believe. It may be a little harder to capture in an advent picture but maybe something like praying hands or something meaningful for your family could be a symbol for believe.

Each day the child(ren) could review the story using the ornaments before reading and adding to the story. After Christmas, box up the ornaments for next year. It's likely the children will enjoy pulling them out and remembering their Christmas advent crafts, adding new ones, and recounting the story for others. 

Another idea is to use the book with a child-friendly nativity set like my granddaughter rearranged for half an hour. Rehearsing stories in a hands-on way is always a great way to imprint a learning experience. 

In whatever way you choose to teach your children about Christmas, I highly recommend M is for Manger as part of your Christmas experiences. 

Heavenly Father, help us teach our children about Your Son who came as a babe in a manger to give His life for our sins. Show us how to keep them focused on Jesus above the secular draw of the season. May Your kingdom come and Your will be done with peace on earth good will to men. In Jesus's name. Amen.