Magi Reflections

Magi Day 1:  Today we started talking about who the Magi were in the Bible's Christmas story, and although there are several embellished ideas, we settled on them being educated, wealthy men who (among other things) studied the stars, the heavens. 

Bruce and I made time tonight to stargaze a bit, and it was an amazingly clear night. I was expecting a few, but there were easily a hundred stars visible from our backyard tonight. (Thanks God!). And I was thinking about how many more stars would have been visible for the Magi to gaze upon, away from the light pollution of our modern cities. I love how God uses the natural to point our hearts to the spiritual, and it struck me - how much clearer we would be able to focus on the heavenly, if our vision wasn't hindered by distractions of this life.

As I was thinking about these men studying the stars, I was convicted of how out of practice I am of making time to sit, watch, study, and take notes on heavenly things, and how much more of a "wise man" I would be if I did. 

So my prayer tonight for myself, my son, and the Church, is that we'd become stargazers. That our minds, hearts, and lives would not be distracted by things of this world, that we'd set our gaze on Heaven. And that we would make time to sit and watch and take notice.

Magi Day 2:  Today we talked about where the Wise Men "from the East" came from. Again, it's uncertain - who knows! But we got the globe down and I showed Bruce where the Middle East was in relation to us. I also made him a treasure map with X marking Jerusalem and some camel icons in the places experts think might have been the starting place for the Magi. Then I let Bruce draw the trail marks. He chose present day Yemen as "home of the Magi", but then later said they probably came from China. Either way, he loved the map of course.

Thoughts I had while making the map and researching locations: 

The magi lived nowhere near Jerusalem. They weren't the shepherds on a nearby hill. The "Christmas Story" could easily be told without including them. But they WERE included. I was thinking, no matter where we fall on the spectrum of closeness with God, or how far removed from the central Plot line we feel, we still play important roles in the Story.

Also, as I was making Bruce's map, and looking at map after map of the Middle East, I couldn't help but think of all the events currently going on there. Historically, the Middle East has always been a hot spot, and today is no different. As I outlined borders of different countries, I found myself praying - God, I have no idea what you're doing here, what the immediate future holds, but I trust you. 

So my prayer for tonight is that we would actually believe our roles in the Story are valuable and important, and our actions would reflect that belief. And that Gods presence would rest in the Middle East.

Magi Day 3:  Today we talked about "when" the Magi of the Christmas story lived. Again, surprise-surprise, experts aren't sure. Probably 4 BC? So we spent some time talking about what life was like back then. 

I was thinking about how much simpler, but in the same breath, more complex, life would have been back then. Thinking about how the lack of modern amenities would have made life more slow-paced in some ways, but such, such labor was involved just to exist. I think ever since man first picked up a stone to break open a pecan, we've been on this journey to figure out how to make life easier, and rightly so. But at some point, maybe, the tension switched? Now life is so much "easier" but we've built these crazy complex societies around us that make it nearly impossible to simply exist. And I was thinking about how easy it is to get lost in life today, without pausing for a moment to think, reflect, meditate, or listen to the inner Voice. As much as I appreciate my dishwasher, car, iPad, box of cereal - fill in the blank with a million modern conveniences - I can't help but feel like I'm missing out on something. Set up in a courtyard with neighbors grinding grain, sitting with sisters around the lake scrubbing clothes clean, standing as an apprentice over the shoulder of a master craftsman - I could go on, but you get the gist. The closest personal experience that I can think of is weeding my garden in the springtime. It's backbreaking work that makes my fingers hurt for days. BUT - it's such a fulfilling time, almost an escape. I can't tell you how much insight I've gained during the hours I've spent in the garden. I'm not saying that we all need to buy land and live off the grid, but I know it's time for our family to do some serious evaluation of our current lifestyle, and figure out how to get back to a place that allows for a quieting of our minds, an openness to doing things the hard way, appreciating the craft, the process, and the Provider. Not being so consumed by things or screen time, but really making time for experiences and relationships. 

Today was a busy day (ironic?) BUT tomorrow I plan on baking bread with Bruce - the hard way.

My prayer for tonight is that if the Church makes time to purposefully slow down in this season, that God would be faithful to meet with us in those quieted moments, speak Truth to our hearts, pour out wisdom, and sing songs of His love over us.

Magi Day 4: "For we saw His star"

When I was thinking about what to share with Bruce today, I got to thinking about how they SAW the star. And it wasn't just happenstance. They were in a habit of watching, purposeful. So it's not surprising that they would have noticed the message-star. And I was thinking about how God loves to share revelations with us, is always wanting to communicate with us. I believe He still sends signs and wonders, gives us dreams and visions, speaks volumes through the Bible and wisdom of others. I think He attempts to connect with us in all ways imaginable - but are we postured to receive those messages? I love when I'm in a place where my heart is tuned in, and I love the words I know without a doubt have been spoken to me from my Father - but I can only imagine there are countless messages I've missed because I haven't been paying attention.

So today I played a little game with Bruce. When he wasn't looking, I taped four, not-small, tin foil stars around the house, in super obvious places, and didn't at all try to make them blend in like decorations. I was curious to see if he'd notice them, or how long it would take. He didn't mention them all day, so at bedtime I asked him if he noticed anything new hanging up in our house. He immediately said "those stars" and so I asked him which ones he saw. He pointed out the two in the room we were in, but didn't say anything about the ones in his bedroom or the bathroom, so I told him that he could keep an eye out for more tomorrow. And then I talked to him a little about how God likes to talk to us, to send us messages - and even though he's young, God still wants to talk to him, too - we just have to wait, and to listen. 

For anyone who hasn't "heard" from God - including children, and my children - I know it sounds like a crazy and ridiculous concept, and impossibly hard to discern the difference between stirrings of the Spirit and our conscience. I have no explanations, no pointers. Except to say that I believe it's true - God speaks, and I've heard Him.

My prayer for tonight, for myself, my children especially, the Church, and EVERYONE, really, is that we'd notice the signs. We'd see the stars. That our eyes and ears would be open, our hearts postured. When God is bending down, whispering, shouting, attempting to engage with us - that we would have an increased measure of awareness. And to pray - God - send us more!

Magi Day 5:  In keeping with yesterday's thoughts, today I was thinking about how not only did the Magi see the star, they knew what it meant. Although the Bible passage in Matthew itself doesn't mention it specifically, several studies I read explained that because of their training and education, the Magi would have been familiar with Balaam's prophecy (Numbers 24) about a Star coming out of Jacob, signaling a new king.

And I was thinking about how I always have this inner struggle, trying to figure out if closeness with God results from Him meeting us where we're at, or from us seeking Him. And I know it's not an either/or, rather both. I think God often makes the first move, but we have a responsibility to hold up our end. There's a reason we have the Bible. I don't know about you, but I don't know the Bible nearly as well I'd like to. So even if I get rid of distractions, quiet my mind, notice signs, believe I'm important enough for God to communicate to - even if that star is blazing in my night's sky and I know it has to mean SOMETHING - if I'm not well-versed in Truth, not aware of prophecies yet to be fulfilled, if I haven't educated myself in Gods intentions, then I'm going to be frustrated, confused, uncertain - oblivious - to the message in Gods heart that He's wanting to give me. I know God has mysteries He hasn't fully revealed, I know the Bible can be confusing - but it's not an excuse to not even try. And I know God loves to grant wisdom, we just need to ask for it. 

Today our family went on a treasure hunt for fun. Bruce found clues that led him all around town, eventually ending at the candy store in the mall for some chocolate gold doubloons. He received cryptic messages that he was able to decode because he was familiar with the context and he had background knowledge. I was thinking - the same is true of God - His signs may seem cryptic, but if we familiarize ourselves with his Word, and build up our background knowledge, we'll be much better off. Bruce and Abby are still so young, but I don't think it's ever to early to start building their foundations of Biblical Truth - but I need to have a sturdy foundation myself as well.

Tonight my prayer is that the Church would renew its interest in the Bible. And not just the same go-to passages that have almost become cliche at times - but really dig into and study it as a whole, especially the challenging parts. And that we'd purposefully ask for wisdom as we try to figure it out. I'm praying that God would pour out greater measures of understanding and clarity, and that as we put forth effort to get a grasp of Gods heart and His plans, that God would be faithful to reveal to us His purposes. And I'm praying for our kids, and parents - that God would craft our words to them, and ready their hearts to hear. That this next generation would really comprehend, at an early age, the greatness of God and His plans for them.

Update: Bruce and I did end up baking bread yesterday! And as I told Bruce to switch the mixer on as I pushed a button to pre-heat my oven, I had to laugh to myself. It was definitely less convenient than grabbing bread at the store, but even THIS wasn't the "hard" way... So we made another batch!  And we only used a spoon this time and we even made a small fire in the backyard to cook it over! Bruce gathered some wood (the equivalent of about 8 toothpicks) while I rolled out the dough, then we found some more sticks together before setting it ablaze. No, God didn't speak to me while kneading or snapping branches, but we made a fun memory!

Magi Day 6:  Yesterday we talked about how the Magi knew the star prophecy, so today we looked into that prophecy and some other Biblical prophecies about the birth of Jesus. 

We've been lighting candles on an advent wreath for the past week, and the first candle is the "Prophecy candle". When we light it, I tell Bruce that we light the Prophecy Candle to remind us that what God says will happen, always happens. And that a long time ago God said he'd send us a King, a savior, a rescuer - and he did - he sent Jesus. And then we talk about how the Bible also says that Jesus will come back again, and we can be hopeful and trust that's true.

In that vein, we also talked some today about the prophecies in the Bible that talk about Jesus' return. I'm by far no expert, and we didn't go into great detail. But I know it's an area I want to grow in understanding and wisdom, and I want to get into a normal rhythm of talking about those things with my kids, too!

I was thinking about how it was fitting that today marks the second Sunday in advent, so we started lighting the second candle on our advent wreath, the Preparation Candle. I think the Church, myself included, spends so much time focusing on the now, and how to love well in the now, that we tend to neglect the future. God has specifically asked the Bride to make herself ready, and part of that is doing "now" well, but a lot of it is an attitude of the heart - waiting in expectation for the Bridegroom. I have to confess, that expectation feels far from my heart most days. I think all Christians would say they believe Jesus will return "someday" but don't give it much attention beyond that. I want that to change in my heart.

So my prayer for tonight is that the Church would enter into a season of Preparation, of expectation. That we would live from a place where we made a conscious effort to make ourselves ready. That we would familiarize ourselves with the signs of the times, and that our hearts would grow in excitement and honest belief that our King is coming.

Magi Day 7: The star-gazers saw the message-Star, and they knew what it meant. And they knew what they had to do - go and find this new King. Regardless of where specifically the Magi came from, they embarked on an incredible journey to find Jesus.

I checked out several books from the library for Bruce about the Wise Men. Some are the traditional story set to varying illustrations, some are more of folk tales from different countries, loosely based on the Biblical account. A few focus on a specific part of the story - like gathering myrrh - and others tell the traditional story, but from the perspective of another person traveling with the Wise Men. One thing all the books had in common was - the journey. 

I was thinking about how the Church has signed up for this journey as well - we've been told there's a King and we want to find Him. And for the rest of our lives we'll be on this journey, an effort to draw nearer to Jesus, to find Him. And I was reminded of the verse, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart" Jeremiah 29:13. I don't thinking "finding Jesus" is a one-time event. Not because I think God leaves, and then we have to search again. Or because I think our salvation hangs in the balance from day to day. I just think that as our affections for God begin to fade, when we get caught up in life - we start to feel distant from God. I think as with any relationship, if you're not pursuing greater intimacy, things stagnate. And for that reason, I think we'll always be in pursuit of our King, the journey is on-going. 

Tonight my prayer for the Church is that we would embrace the journey, that we would push forward, drawing closer to Jesus. That we would seek God's face with all our hearts, and that God would be faithful to reveal Himself to us.

Magi Day 8:  Today we talked about the idea of there only being "three" wise men isn't necessarily historically accurate, and even if there were only three kings, there would have been a lot more people included in the caravan in order to make the arduous journey across countries bearable. 

Just for fun, we talked about who we would want to be in our caravan if we were going on a long adventure. Bruce listed two friends, Blackbeard, Abby, Charlie and myself. Sounds like a great crew.

I was thinking about how the Church makes pretty spectacular company to caravan with. I'm really happy God created us to live in community, and as we commit to this journey to find Jesus, I'm thankful we don't have to walk the trek alone. I'm thankful God has given me people to bring the supply of water, to help deal with my baggage, to be fire starters, to build shelter around me, to help navigate difficult passages, to be my force in numbers that protects me from bandits that wait to attack when vulnerable. 

Tonight, my prayer for the Church is that we would be aware of our caravan - and be thankful! And for God to continue to bring companions alongside of us. For us to identify our "job" in the caravan, and for us to feel empowered to do it well. Most of all, my prayer is that the Church would find community, grow in relationships, and feel supported and encouraged by one another!

Magi Day 9: Today we talked about King Herod. Actually, we've talked about King Herod everyday since we started learning about the Magi, because Bruce is always obsessed with the villains in stories...

There's not much to say about Herod, other than he was incredibly powerful, incredibly jealous, and incredibly paranoid. And Bruce thinks he's amazing...

So today I spent some time reading articles about why kids/people love bad guys, trying to assure myself that Bruce is normal, haha... Not everything I read seemed to ring true for Bruce, but a lot of the ideas seemed to make sense. 

I'm probably simplifying it too much, but Freud proposes that human nature will always struggle with the pleasure principle - we want what we want when we want it. Selfish. Born to be bad, but held back by society. So naturally, we would be interested in bad guys who aren't constrained in the same way everyone else is. 

Villains are usually strong, cool, interesting characters, with amazing freedom. They get to be wild and do whatever they want! Who doesn't love that?

Another point that I think is especially valid for Bruce, is the need to explore the unknown. If something seems scary or unsettling, knowing more about it sometimes eases the fear.

From a Biblical perspective, it all kind of makes sense, too. It's undeniable that we have a sinful nature, and anyone with kids knows it rears its ugly head EARLY. haha... And even the most vigilant of us I think still struggle with keeping ourselves in check. So the idea of being mesmerized with someone who doesn't need to be "good" all the time makes perfect sense. 

So I'm not going to worry about Bruce. And I think it's fine that he made a King Herod Playmobil toy that he prizes.

My prayer tonight is that the Church would be strengthened in the battle between good and evil. That we would feel God's grace, that we don't have to be perfect, but feel God's nudge reminding us that good, what He purposes for us, is always better. That even if darkness can be intriguing, we wouldn't be tempted to dance with it.

Magi Day 10: The magi asked Herod, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?" Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, Herod inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet: 'And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; for out of you shall come forth a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel.’”

To be honest, today was a funky day with everyone getting over one illness or another. I can't even remember if Bruce and I even talked about the magi today. But that's life, right? I do have some thoughts to share on this next part of the story though, and maybe I'll do something with Bruce tomorrow on this subject.

The magi saw the star, knew a King had been born, made the journey to Jerusalem, but still didn't know where to find Jesus. They were familiar with the star prophecy, but not about the Bethlehem prophecy. I don't have the perfect answer for that one, and that might give some reason to doubt the credibility of the entire account, but I choose to view it a different way. 

Again, thinking about how we were created for community, I find it interesting how God gives different people different pieces of the puzzle. I've witnessed this time and again in my personal life, I know it to be true. God will communicate one thing in one way to someone, another thing another way to another person. God speaks in dreams and visions, His wisdom can be found in nature, His words made alive in the Word. We hear Truths in songs and out of the mouths of babes. God is always trying to communicate with us, and when we are open, vulnerable, brave - willing to share with others what He's saying, and available to listen as others share - pieces start falling into place and God's message can be made clearer. Someone to dream, someone to interpret. Someone to reveal Truths, someone to connect the dots. We need each other. The magi saw the star, but ended up in Jerusalem. Herod's men missed the star, but knew to look in Bethlehem. They needed each other. On this journey to draw near to Jesus, there are going to be times when we don't know where to go next, when we get stuck, when we need help interpreting what God is saying, or guiding us when we don't understand. And in those moments, we need to rally the chief priests and scribes of the people - call on the community - and ask for someone to redirect us, point us the right way, remind us of what we might have forgotten, or give us the missing piece.

Tonight my prayer for the Church is that we would independently seek after God's heart, but then be faithful to share corporately the parts of the Father's heart that have been revealed to us. Not many of us stand behind pulpits. We don't have a captive audience at a designated time. But we don't need to. God will speak to us, and what a privilege we have to pass along the message. I'm praying that the Church would create opportunities to listen, and create opportunities to share, and as a result, that the Church would be encouraged and strengthened.

Magi Day 11: The magi went to the palace because they were looking for a King, but he wasn't there. 

They're not my words, but I love them - God's kingdom is upside down and inside out. Isn't that the truth? From His very entrance into the world, Jesus was set on shaking our expectations, shifting our paradigms. It would have been so much easier to come to earth with His royal coursers blazing - but it wouldn't have been Love.

He wasn't born in a palace, rather a stable. He had all the riches of heaven, but he made himself poor. He was most powerful, but he chose to be a servant. He won by losing everything. And his teachings declared that the last would be first, the weak would be strong. God looks at the inner man, not outward facades. And I love the idea of how His kingdom is "Already, but not yet". 

I still find myself heading for the palace to find Jesus sometimes though. I put Him, religion, my own expectations - in a box and then am surprised when I find out God has different intentions. It's so counter-cultural to align with His way of thinking - but it's Love. 

Tonight my prayer is that the Church would grow in wisdom to understand what God is asking when He's calling us to be last, weak, and servants. That we would take God out of the box, get rid of our pre-conceived notions of what God "should" be like, and find answers to His true character in the Bible. And that if God chooses to reveal Himself in surprising, counter-intuitive ways, that our hearts would not be so stubborn and set in our ways that we completely miss out on what God wants to share with us.

Magi Day 12: "After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. "

I'm going to take some creative liberty on this one. The Bible doesn't say specifically, but there are some that believe that the star the Wise Men saw wasn't in the sky for the entire journey to Jerusalem. That they saw it and knew a King had been born, but then didn't see it again until they were leaving the palace. Who knows, but I'm going to hop on that train. I don't think it necessarily really matters, but I kind of like the idea that the star came back for them, as a reminder. 

Don't we all need reminders?

Those star-gazers saw the star and knew it was a sign from God. They started the journey to find Jesus but got off-track. They wound up at the palace, because they misunderstood. Sounds familiar. But they got some advice from other people seeking God, and then - they saw the star again. Confirmation. It's always so reassuring. I'm so thankful God sends us reminders and thumbs up signs in the stars. 

Tonight my prayer is that the Church wouldn't be discouraged when we get off track. I'm praying that we would rally around each other, helping each other pursue closeness with Jesus. And I'm asking for God to continue to send us gifts, like that star, that encourage our hearts, reminding us that He sees us, and He's proud of us, and we're doing well.

Magi Day 13: After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. 

They found Jesus and they worshipped Him.

That word - worship. It's a word we throw around a lot and it can get over-simplified I think. Sometimes the Church gets so wrapped up in our vernacular that the words start to lose their meaning, their power. Worship is one of those words for me. It starts to mean "the music before the content time" or to counter that thought, I remind myself it's "not just music, it's how we live our life." But deep down I know there's more to it than that, it's just hard to live daily from a place where I feel like I'm worshipping Jesus the way I know those Wise Men did. I know I'm not "falling to the ground" - that's for sure. 

So, like any good word-lover does, I looked up some definitions and synonyms. Worship is: Showing respect and love, giving reverent honor, an act of devotion. It can be ceremonial, but doesn't have to be.

Just like I believe "finding" Jesus is an on-going journey, I believe worshipping Him is a constant choice as well. And I really think it has to be a conscious choice - purposeful - for it to really move God's heart. So often I find myself just going through the motions, but if I was really aware that I was standing in the presence of God, I think I would do a better job at being respectful and bringing honor to the One who I say is my King. Reverent is such a powerful word, but reverence is not a condition my heart embodies regularly. Truth be told, as I get caught up in the day, I don't particularly "feel" like God is in my midst, and as a result, I don't operate from a place where I act like it's true. And my wandering mind and disengaged heart, my disregard for God's nearness, is definitely NOT worship. 

So tonight, my prayer for myself and the Church, is that we would be aware of the nearness of God. That we would clear our minds and engage our hearts. That we would sincerely offer respect and honor to God - both in our inward attitudes and outward actions - bowing ourselves down in reverence before our King.

Magi Day 14: Again, I'm going to take some creative liberty with this one. Today, and for the next two days, Bruce and I are talking about the gifts the wise men brought Jesus. There are some that say the gifts are important simply because they were costly. True. There are some that take that further and say the three gifts were symbolic representations of different roles Jesus would play. Whether it's true or not, I don't think there's any harm in thinking over what meanings the gifts possibly could have held, and what significance they could have in our lives today.

So, today we talked about gold. Bruce's favorite. One way to view the gift of gold, is that it's fitting for a king. Jesus came to be our King. 

A king is "the ruler of an independent state, especially one who inherits the position by right of birth. Sovereign." What a perfect description of Jesus. I've never thought of myself as an independent state, but that seems perfect, too. Free from influence or control, liberated, unconstrained. I have choices, and I'm choosing Him. Jesus came to be the Sovereign King, and He has earned that position by right of birth, because of who His Father is.

Tonight I'm thinking about how desperately the Israelites wanted a king, and how hesitant God was in allowing them to have one. And I'm thinking about how unwelcomed the idea of a new king being born was for a lot of the people in Jerusalem. And thinking about how Jesus was mocked as King of the Jews. We, people in general, have a hard time with kings I think. We have power and control issues.

If I say Jesus is King, what gold am I bringing Him for His storehouse? And am I actually allowing Him to have kingship over my life? It's not a new concept, and I'm by no means finished with this exercise, but I'm thinking through - what areas of my life am I still trying to control? Where am I struggling to accept a different authority as opposed to my own intentions? I know Jesus is a good King who rules with integrity and justice. He has all the authority and power of Heaven. So how will I come to adore Him?

My prayer for tonight is that the Church would honor Jesus as King. That we'd lay down any attempt to hold on to control or power, of feeling like we need to run the show. That we'd bring no disrespect with self-sufficient attitudes. That we'd gain a better understanding of what letting Jesus rule in our lives really looks like, and if there's any fear involved with that, that God's peace would rest over our hearts. That we would know that trusting Jesus to lead us as King is worth it.

Magi Day 15: The magi brought Jesus frankincense. Again, a costly gift. Looking symbolically, the Bible speaks of frankincense used in temple worship. Jesus is the Great High Priest - and the Wise Men possibly knew that.

The High Priest was holy, set apart. He was a servant in the Tabernacle. The one qualified to enter the The Most Holy Place. The mediator between God and the people. The number one spiritual leader. He represented Israel on the Day of Atonement. Jesus fulfills this role perfectly. 

I ordered some frankincense (isn't the Internet amazing) so today Bruce and I burned some together. As we were enjoying its aroma, I was thinking of the verse, "May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice." (Psalm 141:2) As I'm thinking of how to honor Jesus in His role as the Great High Priest, I feel like this verse is part of the answer. To respond to Him in prayer, to meet with Him. To let Him enable me to approach the Father with confidence. What a precious gift Jesus has given us, the ability to be near to the Father. We don't have to stay in the outer court. 

I can be so guilty of not taking advantage of this gift, though. I don't pray nearly as much as I should, and even though I believe prayer is powerful, I find my heart second-guessing its effectiveness. I have the privilege to have an audience with God, shouldn't I take that more seriously? Yes.

So tonight, my prayer for the Church is that we would continue to put more of a focus on the privilege and power of prayer. That we would meet with God more frequently, both individually and corporately. That we would acknowledge and appreciate Jesus in the role of the Great High Priest.

(Side note - if you're local and interested in opportunities to put this into practice corporately, let me tell you about the Norman Prayer Furnace!)

Magi Day 16: The final gift was myrrh. Another costly gift. Because myrrh was used for embalming and at funerals, symbolically, myrrh could have foretold of Jesus' honorable, but agonizing death. Myrrh represents bitterness, suffering, and affliction.

For several years as a little girl, I attended a chapel on the army base that was shared between the Catholics and Protestants. I can remember one Sunday, in between services, the changes being made to the sanctuary to shift from "Catholic" to "Protestant." One of the changes was that there was a crucifix on the altar that we turned around, so that the body of Jesus couldn't be seen by the congregation. When I asked about this, I don't know if if was my mother or another adult, explained to me that Protestants don't like to remember Jesus in His state of suffering, but rather use the "empty" cross to represent His resurrection - that Jesus didn't stay on the cross. It was an agreeable explanation at the time, and even to this day I have a preference for using an "empty" cross to symbolize my faith. BUT - I think Catholics might be on to something! Yes, I love thinking about the Living God, the Resurrected One. But I all too often find myself glossing over the dark part of the resurrection story. Jesus didn't "just" take our sins away. He didn't "just" die for us. It was brutal. And His entire purpose for coming to Earth in the first place was for that beautifully tragic end. We can't just rush to the tomb on Easter morning without living through Good Friday. 

If the Wise Men knew what they were doing when they brought Jesus these special gifts, when they laid myrrh at His feet, it was as if they were looking 30 years into the future and saying, you will endure the worst afflictions for the sake of mankind, and we honor you now for that. It's a choice you don't have to make, but we know you will, and we thank you for that. 

I don't think it's necessary to constantly dwell on the specifics concerning the death of Jesus, but I think we're doing a great disservice when we don't really, sincerely, and deeply acknowledge what it was that He came to do for us. I know it's a matter I take far too lightly.

This afternoon Bruce and I infused some myrrh with olive oil. We haven't done anything with it yet, but my mind keeps going to the woman who washed Jesus' feet with expensive perfume before He died. And also thinking about how the people who covered Jesus' body with myrrh in preparation for burial, would have walked away smelling of myrrh themselves. Maybe we'll work through some activity tomorrow along those lines. 

Tonight, my prayer for the Church, is that for a sincere moment, we'd turn the crucifix back around, to really look at Jesus. To internalize what that means for us as a people needing atonement. And to ask what it means when the Bible says we are to join in His suffering.

Magi Day 17: After finding Jesus, the magi had a dream from God. This is an area of my faith that has been so encouraging over the last few years - asking for and receiving dreams that I believe are from God.

It's kind of interesting to think about all the ways God communicated to the Wise Men. There was the star - a natural sign and wonder, that fulfilled a prophecy from hundreds of years before. They had to know the scriptures to hear God's message with that one. Then there were Herod's men who told the Wise Men where to find Jesus. They had to be networking with other believers to catch that message. But THEN, there was the dream. They weren't doing anything and God reached down from heaven and spoke to their sleeping ears. I really like this part of the story because it reassures me that you don't necessarily have to know all the prophecies in the Bible, and you don't have to wait to hear God's voice through the mouth of someone who seems to know Him better. God wants to communicate with us, all of us, in whatever way possible, and some times that involves dreams.

I'm no expert, but typically when I have a dream, especially one that feels "weighty" I spend some time thinking over it the next day. I ask God if there's anything He's trying to say. I think about what different parts of the dream could symbolize. Sometimes it's obvious, sometimes not so much. It can be so exciting though! I don't think every dream has meaning or purpose - but I always want to give them a chance. To allow God the opportunity to speak to me through my dreams. I'm currently processing four dreams that I've had over the past month that all seem inter-connected. Sometimes working through them takes a while. But in the end, it's always rewarding. 

Tonight, my prayer is that God would give the Church more dreams! I'm praying that the Church would be open to the idea of spiritual dreams, that we would request dreams, anticipate dreams - expect them even. That God would reveal more of His heart to us through dreams!

Magi Day 18: The Wise Men obeyed the dream. The Bible doesn't give specifics. I don't know if one man dreamed, or if they all did. I don't know if it was cryptic, or clear as crystal. What I do know is that one way or another, the magi were warned through a dream to not return to Herod. And for whatever reason, they trusted the dream, and acted on it. 

I'll be out of pocket the next few days, so this will be my last "official" magi post. But for myself, and for those who have been following these posts for the last few weeks, I wanted to lay out a challenge in line with this last idea of obedience and action. 

There's still a week leading up to Christmas that you can devote to follow-through, however that may look for you. Here are some ideas:

1) Commit to setting aside 10-15 minutes every night this week to go outside and star gaze. Write down any thoughts that come to mind. If there seems to be a follow up action - do it! Was there a friend brought to mind that you need to call? Is there anyone you need to ask forgiveness from? Is there any aspect of life that you need to adjust? Is there something you're holding back from doing out of doubt or fear?

2) Slow down. Maybe give up on Facebook or TV for a week, or at least taper your time. Cook real meals and enjoy them with your family. Walk somewhere and leave the car at home. Actually handwrite someone a letter. 

3) commit to reading your Bible every day this week. Google some prophecies and read up on them. Read the Christmas story in every Gospel. Read the Easter story in every Gospel, etc.

4) Serve your caravan. Who in your church could use some encouragement? Take people out for coffee, send an email, make a phone call, pray for them. Write out a Bible verse and mail them a Christmas card. You could pick a different person every day even.

5) call on your community! If this is a season when you're feeling discouraged or needing help - ask for it! Be vulnerable and find someone you trust to talk to. Find a "buddy" that you can chat with every day this week for a few minutes.

6) Chose a gift for Jesus. I love the description in Matthew 25:35-40 "'For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’" Find a way to tangibly love Jesus by loving others. Bring some gloves or socks to the homeless shelter, bake some treats for your neighbors, visit people in the nursing home, etc. 

7) what "role" of Jesus do you want to be grateful for this Christmas? The Bible is full of different names of God, different ways He interacts with us. Pick a different name every night this week and thank God for who He is and what He's done.

8) Every night this week before going to bed, ask God for a dream! Then, if you have a dream, write it down - no matter how short or insignificant it is. Spend some time praying about the dream. If there seems to be a follow up action - do it! Did you dream about a specific person? Call them or pray for them. Need some help interpreting it? Share it with someone you trust! Have no clue? Come back in a week, or month and read about it again - maybe it'll make more sense!

These are just a few ideas. My point is, the Wise Men, from the beginning to the end of story, were obedient with follow through, and the Church needs to be obedient as well. It means nothing to have our hearts stirred, to know we want more or need change, and then do nothing and carry on as normal. So for this next week, as Christmas quickly approaches, I want to be purposeful and specific in my actions in response to the way my heart has been stirred this past month.

My prayer tonight is that the Church would be faithful with follow-through!