The Twelve Words of Christmas

No, not “The Twelve Days of Christmas” although that’s a fun song to sing. Most of this blog post comes from a summary of a talk by Louie Giglio, a fantastic Bible teacher whom I’ve just discovered, thanks to my friend, Stephanie.

Louie mentions that his family, as many do, loved to sing Christmas songs among which was “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” The custom was to assign each family member a day in the song. The high point of hilarity was assigning the most tone-deaf member of the family the “first day” as he would be the verse-ender for each stanza and consequently, bring everyone to tears as they held their sides in rib-splitting laughter.

Regardless of how much joy we derive from singing Christmas songs, no one would argue that they bring lasting joy, nor do they bring eternal salvation.

That was left to the One of whom the angels sang to those frightened shepherds on that Bethlehem hillside 2,000 plus years ago.

This unique message in song from God’s messengers was even more of a stellar event because He had been silent for 400 years—from the time when the prophet Malachi penned his last words until that moment when the Baby broke that silence with his first cry.

Christmas Eve 1906 brought forth another unique happening. Reginald Fessenden had worked in Edison’s lab experimenting with sound transmission. That Christmas Eve he decided to go to the lab and see if he could transmit his voice to ships equipped with receivers sailing the Atlantic. He was successful in doing so, reading the Christmas story from Luke 2. Fessenden was a classically trained musician and had brought his violin along with him to the lab. He picked it up and began to play “O Holy Night.”

It gives me goose bumps to imagine how those ship captains must have felt when they heard, seemingly out of nowhere, the words of the Christmas story and then a beautiful Christmas carol. It had to have been the most momentous Christmas Eve of their lives.

Back to the twelve words of Christmas. They are, “A Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord.”  That trumps "The Twelve Days of Christmas" beyond measure.

Angels Around and Amongst

Mourning, anger, and fear. Shootings at schools and churches, in nightclubs, and holiday parties. Where can God be in all of this? Would you believe, right there—beside those who weep and the fearful? He has always been “there” and will always be “there.” We often don’t understand His timetable, but His time is always the right time—in the end. And the end is really what matters.

Several thousand years ago a man named Jacob was running away from home for fear that his twin brother, Esau, would find him and kill him. Jacob had a good reason to fear Esau because he had traded a bowl of delectable stew for Esau’s birthright—Esau definitely feeling food was most important. Then with a little help from his mother, Jacob stole his brother’s blessing as the firstborn. And that was the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back.

In the 28^th chapter of Genesis we find Jacob running for his life, camping out in the desert, so destitute of creature comforts he uses a rock for a pillow. Somehow finding a comfortable crevice to fit his head, Jacob goes to sleep—and then to dream. He sees a ladder stretching from earth to heaven with angels going up and down. To add to this awesome setting, God is standing above the ladder speaking directly to Jacob and identifying Himself as being the Lord God of Abraham (Jacob’s grandfather) and the God of Isaac (Jacob’s father). God goes on to say He is giving the land where Jacob is sleeping to him and his descendants, the number of which will be as numerous as the dust of the earth. Most importantly, God tells Jacob, “In you and your seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.”

Then God says to Jacob, “I am with you and will keep you wherever you go....” When Jacob woke up he said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” Not surprising since he was camping in a pretty inhospitable area, not a spot one would consider God inhabiting.

Today we may be wandering in our own kind of desert. Maybe it’s grief due to death of loved ones or broken relationships, suffering from chronic illness, loss of a job, or fear of life in general.

All of God’s children can depend on His statement to Jacob—“I am with you”—no matter the type of desert. The truth of that statement can also be based on an event about 2000 years ago when a baby was born in a Bethlehem stable. That baby was Jesus—Immanuel—God with us. Announced by His heavenly messengers, the angels sang of His birth, this One foretold to be of Jacob’s seed. For Jacob’s son, Judah, founded the tribe of Judah from which came the Lion of Judah, the Savior of the World.

God IS with us!!

ThanksLiving

They cry, “Peace, peace, when there is no peace.” Those words from Jeremiah, the Old Testament prophet could be echoed by our world today. Many must wonder, Is there such a thing as peace anymore?  

“…My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Those were Jesus’ gentle words to his disciples—and to us--in John 14:27.  Even back in the Old Testament, God promised in Jeremiah 29:17, “I have a good plan for you, of hope and a future.”

Thanksgiving is nearly upon us and I am blessed to live in a sheltered part of the world that doesn’t have to deal directly with terrorism and war. However, peace isn’t necessarily an external entity. The Norman Rockwell idea of Thanksgiving might picture family or friends sharing hospitality, with the general idea of overeating--and then it’s time to watch the football game. That’s all great but what if we continued to express our gratitude beyond Thanksgiving.

I love it that so many on FaceBook have joined in the idea of daily listing things they are thankful for. After this Thanksgiving season when all the turkey and pumpkin pie has been put away (either in the refrigerator or the tummy), get a notebook to keep by your bed or with your Quiet Time materials and jot down at least one thing you are thankful for each day.

This practice of thanksliving will be a step in the right direction when we look around at our chaotic world, or even within ourselves, and wonder where on earth our peace might be found.

Our Peace is right here, right beside us. He said He would never leave us.

That’s hope that brings peace. That’s really something to be thankful for.

Tucson and More

My blog posting frequency has become appalling. I’d love to blame it on Nat’l. Novel Writer’s Month, but since I’m only doing an abbreviated version of that this year, the excuse won’t work. Maybe it’s old age and feeling really crummy several days of the past few weeks. No, that won’t work either. Might as well ‘fess up to just being lazy!

Tucson Scenery

The “Diehl Reunion” in Tucson was another great time of getting together and eating great food thanks to Brenda and also to our friends, the Rundletts who fed we three Diehls one evening.  

Some of the crew

 We not only enjoyed visiting relatives in Tucson, but friends in Green Valley, more relatives in Chino Valley and friends in Las Vegas. So we made the miles count and are so grateful to all who worked schedules around our trip. 

Halloween arrived in Elko with decent weather but apparently the trick or treaters knew only healthy treats were at our house so they detoured our door. However, the biggest trickster at my house dressed up like a mad scientist—no telling what diabolical experiment he concocted.  

Brian, the Mad Scientist

Autumn leaves with Snow

Snow finally fell in our valley the first week of November—very wet snow but the NV blue skies prevailed and it’s all gone now except for the higher elevations.

And he sang, too.

The house photographer had his debut photography show in Elko last weekend and was gratified by friends’ attendance and support.  

Brian and Pat  at DLC Gallery

Extended family members have been dealt some hard blows recently but the dust has settled somewhat. Through it all, it’s good to cling to the promise that Jesus is the anchor for our souls—Hebrews 6:19. And with the Parisians we can rejoice that although trouble is a certainty in this world, Jesus has overcome the world by His death on the cross and His resurrection. (See John 16:33) And with these great promises, this blog post ends.

Fear vs. Hope

Hurricane Patricia (is that an appropriate name, or what?) has brought much fear to many dreading destruction of property and possible loss of life. Catastrophic cataclysms in the natural world cause humanity great trepidation because we are totally powerless in the face of them. Our modern technological advances can do little other than warn us that hurricanes, mud-slides, sinkholes, erupting volcanoes, or earthquakes are about to take place or have already done so.

Fear can be a crippling part of life to Christ-followers and non-believers alike. I just read a newsletter from friends involved with Wycliffe Bible Translators. The newsletter featured the story of an isolated tribe in Papua New Guinea who have lived in constant fear of evil spirits for centuries. When the New Testament was translated into their heart language, they began to understand that Jesus Christ was greater than any evil spirit. The freedom they realized from believing in the God of the Bible totally freed them from fear.

It’s easy for us here in the USA to pooh-pooh the idea of evil spirits because, for the most part, our eyes are closed to them. But Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, as well as other books in the New Testament, warned his readers that we are not in a battle with flesh and blood (human beings) but in a battle with spiritual forces (Ephesians 6:12)

Here’s the good news. Just because there are forces out there we can’t see that are stronger than we are, doesn’t mean we have to be fearful. I John 4:4 tells us “greater is He that is in us, than he (satan) that is in the world.”

Sarah Young writes in her book, Jesus Calling (based partially on Psalm 21:6) for October 22—“…remember that I (Jesus) have created this day; it is not a chance occurrence. Recall that I am present with you whether you sense my presence or not. Then, start talking with Me about whatever is on your mind. Rejoice in the fact that I understand you perfectly and I know exactly what you are experiencing.”

I’ve been slowly re-reading I John and was struck by some fantastic words in verses 17-19 of chapter 4 which are introduced with the awesome statement—“God is love.”  Because of His love made complete in us, “we can have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world, we are like Him (full of love, not fear). Vs. 18—“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment….” Vs. 19—“We love Him because He first loved us.”

Two thousand years ago, Jesus calmed a sea that threatened to capsize the boat He and His disciples were sailing. He can do the same for a category 5 storm or the most vicious life circumstance we face. Dare we hope in such a great possibility? I think so.

Texas Travelogue

Time for me to get back to posting some entries. I just returned from Ft. Worth visiting my son, Jeff and celebrating his birthday. Got to visit friends--some old, some sort of new, feasted my eyes on the Ft. Worth Botanical Gardens, listened to lots of classical music on the radio and got to see Jeff pretty much finish his kitchen. As for my own personal endeavors, I finished writing the first draft of Deborah the Judge and got well into the story of Debra Haskins.

Jeff’s birthday gift was initially going to be a half load of gravel or mulch on his front yard but when he discovered a day’s rental of a roto-tiller with delivery and return was going to cost almost as much as purchasing one, he went to Plan B which still had to do with curb appeal but dealt more with moving rocks. To help with that, I bought him a wagon—a little black one, not a little red one  

And it even dumps!

Jeff and a partially filled rock column

Partial rock wall Jeff built at back steps

Ate lunch in Dallas on Sunday with some of Jeff’s friends at the Bop, a Korean restaurant. 

After ice cream at the Truckyard (unfortunately I didn’t get pix so no one will believe a description of this place:) 

Children's Tiny House Playhouse--Jeff standing on porch to give perspective

Made a trip to the Botanical Gardens and despite a dearth of roses due to some disease/fungus, saw many beautiful flowers AND a real Tiny House—a playhouse with a loft for children to play in located in a real vegetable garden.

Spider lilies--Botanical Gardens

Jeff had to work on his birthday but he had a piece of his favorite birthday cake we’d bought at a bakery the evening before and I, of course, fixed dinner complete with home-made biscuits.

Doing finish work on the kitchen was on the top of the list, so Jeff found the pieces of crown molding he’d saved from the kitchen demolition and set me up for sanding and painting. When the time came for him to put up the pieces which had to be fitted carefully like jigsaw puzzle pieces because part of the kitchen had been re-configured, he was sure he needed, and had, more pieces. But they were not to be found.  

Choosing to persevere, he decided to put up what pieces he had. In so doing, we got to experience a “Loaves and Fishes” miracle. When he finished, he actually had a 12- inch piece of crown molding left over! Talk about  a practical example of supernatural multiplication!

Face plates on outlets and several items checked off to-do list

When you travel somewhere, at least on this planet, you generally have to come back. So on my return trip, Brian picked me up at the Salt Lake City airport and then we started to visit Animal Shelters. On our second stop, we found Gidget – and that finishes the story. We both feel she is a perfect ending.

Pilot Study Complete

To my knowledge, no one else has used The Women Who Knew Him as a Bible study, therefore, the reason for my title. My thanks go out to Beth C., Beth M., Chela, Cynthia, Patricia, Tiffany and Tina for their willingness to sort of be guinea pigs along with me in order to see how well the stories of these women lend themselves to actual Bible study.   

I believe we were not disappointed and I thank these ladies for their input into additional discussion questions. At this point I will not be revising the book but will make these additional discussion questions available to anyone interested in using the book as a springboard for Bible study and getting to know these women of the first century AD better.

I also have a suggested order of reading the stories. In the book I listed the stories in a somewhat chronological order but personally prefer reading/studying the women’s stories in a more heterogeneous arrangement ending with Mother Mary’s story rather than beginning with it.

In that way, if a study starts in the Fall, Mary’s story would come about Christmas time. Or, if the study began in January, Mary’s story would fall around Easter, again a very appropriate time to be looking at her life.

Hopefully, this will give you somewhat of a framework if you should decide to lead a Bible study looking into how Jesus ministered to the women of the first century AD and an increased faith that He will do the same for us today in 2015 AD. Awesome to consider!!