In light of the season, I’m praising God this week for all things Christmas-related:
1). For time to sleep in without guilt. I never do this, and this week I took the meaning of the word “vacation” to extremes.
2). Time with my husband and kids.
3). The Nielsons generally experience sickness at during Christmas break. This year, so far, we haven’t. Very thankful.
4). For the reminder going around the internet of what the first king-size bed looked like: the manger.
5). “And Mary said, ‘My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name'” (Luke 1:46-49, KJV bold print mine).
6). “And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, ‘Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.’ And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child” (Luke 2:15-17, KJV bold print mine).
7). ‘Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him‘” (Matthew 2:1,2, KJV bold print mine).
I love these three passages, especially in the King James version; incredibly poetic. Mary magnified God and rejoiced in Him as her Savior. The shepherds, upon hearing of Christ’s birth, were in a big hurry to see if for themselves and spread the word. The wise men came for the specific purpose of worshipping Him. Stunning reactions on the parts of all of them, and yet all should be basic daily practices on the part of the Christ-follower. Praise God for His Word and the godly examples of those who lived throughout its pages.
Kathryn Nielson 