Owe

"She gave thanks to God and spoke of him to all," Luke 2:38.

Him: the 40 day-old Jesus. She: Anna. So, who's Anna? In a minute, but first. Ever get upset when you've asked for just this one thing and God doesn't do it? Can't be that big a deal? (I certainly have.) But why should God do anything at all for anybody at all? I mean, really, what in the world does God owe us? For real, what? People walk around all the time mad at God for not doing something. Here's Anna: She's 84. Married at an early age, her husband died seven years in. What does she do? She spends her time worshipping, fasting, praying in the temple. Six decades or so. And seeing baby Jesus, she thanks God and prophesies of Jerusalem's redemption. Sky kingdom.

Encouraging one another, we visit with a brother or sister today. We speak of Jesus, redeemer of our lives. We release self-centered wants. And, together we give thanks for Jesus yielding his very life for us. Amazing!

Consolation

"He was waiting for the consolation of Israel," Luke 2:25.

Ever had a real strong feeling about something was going to happen? Well, Simeon heard the Holy Spirit promise he wouldn't die until he had seen God's Christ. [Sidebar: The Hebrew Bible, the Old Testament, ever points to a time when God would send his especially chosen man. In those days when they talked about a special choice, they said messiah, meaning christ, meaning anointed, depending on the language talked. Sidebar ends.] This special man would redeem Israel, enlighten all peoples, save all from the distress, console those waiting for him, and bring peace to all who pleased God. Jesus is about 6 weeks old (40 days, to be exact) when Simeon finds him, takes the infant in his arms, and says: This is him. The Christ of God. The consolation of Israel.

Touching bases with a brother or sister today, we remind each other of the hope Jesus brings despite distress. He pulls the yoke with us, forward to eternal life. So, consoled together, we give thanks.

Latin

"Gloria in excelsis Deo," Luke 2:14.

The night Jesus was born: Those are the words the heavenly army of God spoke, if they spoke Latin. Which they didn't. Glory to God in the highest, are the words, if they spoke English. Which wasn't invented yet. Doxa en hupsistois theo, are the Greek words. But, instead, they worded praise to God in Aramaic, the  language of common shepherds shepherding sheep that night. God speaks words in any and all human languages, living or dead. Sometimes folk think we get more religious by talking words in ancient languages. But God's fluency finds purchase in the Word made flesh. God is fluent in languages of the heart. English, Swahili, Arabic, Mandarin, whatever, are all ok. But his Word speaks to our hearts. Sky kingdom.

We commune with a brother or sister today, as we hear God's Word speak his love. And, together, we give thanks that God understands. Glory to God!

Fourth

"To you is born this day in the city of David a Savior," Luke 2:11.

Well, today is the fourth day of Christmas, according to folks who keep such time. (You know, the day for the four calling birds.) And you thought Christmas was over! Nossir! The dozen days of fame end only on January 6, celebrated as the Epiphany, that is, the day of the Manifestation (when God showed up as a human being, Jesus being born, right?). Actually, January 7 is the celebration, but we won't quibble. But, we say, it's not the date, but the fact of Jesus' birth that we celebrate, even if quaint folk celebrate Jesus' birth on the wrong day. Now, that's the point: the earliest followers of Jesus, for the better part of two centuries, did not celebrate his birth on any day. What they did celebrate, without fail, every week, was his death, burial, and resurrection. What he asked his people to remember. Communion. Hope.

We fellowship with a brother or sister today, and speak of the confident expectation of resurrection after death. And, together, we give thanks to God for his son's humble, life giving obedience.

Keeper

"Where does my help come from? My help comes from Jehovah God," Psalm 121:1,2

O, Lord God! You are the source, the beginning, the initiator, the start of my help! Yes, of my hope! It's not the hills that inspire me, it's not creation that inspires me. It's, You, maker of hills, of skies, and of earth who inspires me! You keep my feet secure on the path. You watch while I sleep. (You never sleep!) You keep me shaded under the hot sun. You keep me lit under the moon's domain. You're my keeper, Lord! You keep me from the evil one. You keep my life. You keep my every movement. Praise you, God!

Encouraging a brother or sister today, we remind each other of our God, the source of all goodness, protector of our souls. Starting from now and forever more ahead. Together, we give thanks.

Shoes

"Suddenly, a huge army showed up in the sky praising God!" Luke 2:13.

Can you imagine? Camping out under the stars, quietly minding your own business, and out of nowhere a thunderous roar rolls in shaking earth and sky, the words: Glory to God! over and over! Wow! Masses in battle array show up in the sky, touching earth, praising God, proclaiming peace among mortals. (Well, you had an inkling something was going to happen because a single angel had already broken your reverie moments earlier.) And then, suddenly as it all started, the quiet returns. Stunned, the shepherds say: We might ought to check this thing out in Bethlehem. And so they do. And they tell their story. Sky kingdom starting to break out into this old world.

With a brother or sister, today, we remove our shoes and bow in wonder at this thing that has happened. God's rolled up his sleeves, fixing our mess. So, together, we give thanks, glorify, and praise him.

Fixing

"Don't be afraid! I'm bringing you good news! Great joy! For everybody," Luke 2:10.

Middle of the night, out on the grassy meadows, keeping an eye on the sheep. Shepherds doing their thing. Out of nowhere: A blast of light blazes everywhere. They see an unearthly creature through the brilliance. They're scared to death! (You might have noticed, angels often look pretty scary.) Good news? What good news? A baby is born. That's the news? O, Yes, yes, yes! God at work! God doing something about the mess we're in! God fixing things! A savior is born, this day, Christ, the Lord! In David's town! God keeping promises made to father Abraham and Sarah 2,000 years before! And to King David, 1,000 years earlier. Joy! Very, very happy!

With a brother or sister today, we say Praise God! Praise God! And, together, we give thanks that we get to be part of the fix.

Working

"Loud lament, Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted, because they are no more," Matthew 2:18.

Before we get too maudlin about peaceful manger scenes, snow-dusted pastures, starry starry skies, and the stable's warm glow (one of my favorite scenes in the whole wide world!) ... Why did King Herod slaughter the little boys? worldly kingdom. to kill the child Jesus. Mary birthed baby Jesus into that world. Glad things are different nowadays. Not counting, like, children blown up in Oklahoma daycare centers, or sprayed with bullets in New Jersey schoolrooms; or people shot in South Carolina prayer meetings. Oh, No! God, please, No! But, Yes, we've made a big, big mess; O yes, we have. God's working on it, has been for a long, long time.

With a brother or sister today, we confess sin has utterly broken this world. What deep need to receive, and to extend, forgiveness! So, together, we give thanks that God receives Jesus' trust and obedience as ours.

Unsnarling

"O Bethlehem Ephrathah, from you will come a ruler in Israel for me," Micah 5:2.

That line came more than 7 centuries before Jesus was born. The prophet foretold the Assyrian destruction of Israel. Because the people worshiped the lie. And killed children to appease their idols. In the middle of the destruction foretelling, suddenly the prophet talks about a ruler from the little town of Bethlehem who'll save the leftovers. Fast forward. When the magi from the East (remember the star-followers?) lost their way to a new kid-king, how did they get back on track? King Herod's researchers found that old line. That's how they knew to find him in Bethlehem. God's been setting up things for a long, long time, to fix the big, big mess we've made.

With a brother or sister today, we reflect on the centuries God's been resolving his promise. The blessing promise, no lie, to Abraham and Sarah, 4,000 years ago. God's unsnarling our mess. And, together, we give thanks that we, too, get blessed.

Asleep

"Jehovah is God and he has shined on us," Psalms 118:27.

You are my God, and I will thank you! Lord, you are good. Your steadfast love lasts forever. I called on you in distress and you set me free. The Lord makes me sing. Lord, you taught me a hard lesson, but didn't let me die. You answered me and saved me. The stone not good enough for the builders, you made it the cornerstone! This is your doing, O God. You made today - You made our day - we're thrilled! (Whoever comes in the Lord's name, the Lord's blessings on you!) You are my God, You are good! I will thank you forever.

We call a brother or sister today and tell of the light that shines in our darkness. Of fading despair, of growing hope. And we give thanks for the light of the nations asleep in a manger.

Overflowing

"There was no room for them in the guest room," Luke 2:7.

Whoa! Guest room? Wasn't it the inn where the innkeeper said, Go away, we've got no room in the inn! (?) Well, don't know how to say this gently, but it's the guest room. (Same word Jesus uses later for the guest room where the last supper happened.) The innkeeper, he's not even in the story! Now, that's a bummer: Love to hate that old curmudgeon. Here's what's going on: Everybody's at their ancestral homes due to the census. Town's packed. Guest rooms overflowing. Best place for a swaddled baby is straw-filled manger in the home's courtyard. That's how the shepherds knew to find the right baby in the city of David. God fixing the big mess we made.

With a brother or sister today we join our praise with that of the shepherds of old. We glorify God, together, in thanksgiving for the Savior who is Christ the Lord.

Major

"The maiden will conceive and bear a son and shall call his name Immanuel," Isaiah 7:14.

So there they were, all hunkered down, seven plus (7+) centuries before Jesus' birth. Jerusalem besieged. King Ahaz, all scared and stuff, and Jerusalem with him, because the bad guys surrounded them. God's man Isaiah shows up and gives a minor prophecy: No worries - bad guys are humans. Ahaz, see that maiden over there? By the time she's had a kid, named him Immanuel, and weaned him, the bad guys will be history footnotes, because God is with us. (And that's just the way it happened.) But God is bigger than footnotes. He turned the minor into a major mind-blowing prophecy seven plus (7+) centuries later: A virgin conceived Immanuel. God with us. The son of God.

With a brother or sister today, we pause in wonder at this God who, for centuries, has been working painstakingly on this mess of ours, to fix it right. And, together, humbly, we give thanks.

Babies

"That which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit," Matthew 1:20.

Ok, kids! Can you say Incarnation? In-car-na-tion, can you say that? Now. All together, let's say it: In-car-na-tion. In-carnation. Incarnation. Good! But what's with that? means this: Word became flesh. Word into brawn. That which is conceived (weird way to say it, but ... the baby) in her (the baby Mary's carrying) is of (had his start from) the Holy Spirit (the Holy Spirit). A virgin will become pregnant. So, Joseph, fiancee of Mary. Yes, you, the guy engaged to marry Mary. Right, it's kind of embarrassing all around, isn't it? The kid's not yours and all. Awkward! No, don't divorce her. (Love her anyway.) Leave town for a while, take her to Bethlehem, everybody will assume, nobody will know. And it'll be Ok. For everybody. For generations of unborn babies to come.

Today with a brother or sister we marvel at the way God's fixing the mess we're in. Seth, Perez, Salmon, Obed, Solomon, Samuel ... seems like God always starts with babies. And, together, we give thanks he makes us part of the fix.

Sparkles

"The Word became flesh and camped out with us," John 1:14.

Now that's John's whole discussion of the Nativity. No wise men, shepherds, angel armies, grouchy innkeepers, mangers, or even little drummer boys. Something John wants us to get: Jesus is the Word become human. What Word? the one there at the start when God said, Let there be light. Word was God. Look up into the night sky - see the sparkles of light? None of it was there without that Word making it so. Look deep into a photon - wonder about its brilliance? that Word lights the details. And that Word pitched his tent with us. (yeah, it really says that.) The Word put on skin (not pretend like a costume, but became part of his self). And that Word, through our darkness, shines. O how he shines!

Camping out with a brother or sister today, making our way to the land of promise, we share Jesus' light. And, together, we give thanks that we see.

Swear

"He was not the Light, but he came to tell about the Light," John 1:8.

Who wasn't the light? baptizing John wasn't. So who was John? a witness. God sent John out to testify. To swear Jesus was the true light that shines in darkness. John said, He was before me. (Wait, wasn't John six months older than Jesus?) John said, I am not the Christ. John said, I am not Elijah. John said, I am not the prophet. John said, I am a wilderness voice calling out: Make the way of the Lord straight! John said, I am not worthy to kneel in front and untie his sandal. John said, Look! Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Witness John said, I'm telling you, he's the Son of God. John said, He must increase and I must decrease.

We visit today with a brother or sister and we testify with John that the Lamb has taken away our own sins, too. And, together, we give thanks for testimony that points out from our mess, up to the lifted Christ.

Decent

"Praise the Lord! I will give you thanks, Lord, with my whole heart, among decent people, and in the assembly," Psalm 111:1.

Your work shines! People who delight in your works, think about them a lot. Your work makes my effort worthwhile! Your grace and your mercy are food for my soul. I trust your guidance; I trust your work; I will follow you truly, with integrity. When I honor you and listen to you, I get smart. You have redeemed me. Your promises will never change. Nor will you. Your very name is holy and awesome! Praise you, God, forever!

Connecting with a brother or sister, today, we encourage each other to deep honor of our God. Every single good gift comes from the sky kingdom above, where Christ is, seated at God's right hand. So, together, we give thanks.

Reveal

"The child grew and was in the wilderness till the day of his reveal," Luke 1:80.

Who? John. The kid, who, still in Elizabeth's womb, when she, Elizabeth, first heard Mary's greeting, and she, Mary, had baby Jesus in her own womb, this kid, John, jumped! And now, from the wilderness, cultured pretty much like a wilderness man, he comes out like Elijah into the Judean wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the Lord! He baptizes repentant people who demonstrate their repentance by bearing fruit befitting their repentance. Like Elijah, he challenges the king's rot, who justifies his rot by beheading John. Of whom Jesus said: From those born of women, there has risen no one greater than John the baptizer. 

Today, with a brother or sister, we join in the wonder of this God who moves history to include you and me, too. And we give thanks for the cloud of witnesses who prepared the way for us.

Magic

"He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother's womb," Luke 1:15.

No, not talking about Jesus. The pregnant mother? the very old Elizabeth, theretofore childless. The stunned father? the very old Zechariah. The Spirit filled, unborn baby? John. Before he was Baptist. We'd think that if God was going to send his own son into the world, he'd just get on with it, wouldn't we? I mean, if God is so loving and so strong, he'd hear our ads, and Just Do It. We'd think. But God's not man, nor the son of man. He's, well, God. And God's not magic. Magic knows nothing of human need, of unintended consequences. God considers everything we never even dreamed. So God does what we need. And baptizing John's needed to prep us, humans, big time: Repent! the kingdom of heaven's nearly here!

With a brother or sister today, we consider God's mercy in preparing us to receive grace. We set aside ignorant pride, and trust God's provision. And, together, we give thanks to the One who accounts for our need. Even before we were born.

Baby

"They were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly," Luke 1:6.

Remember some gracious elderly people, from your youth perhaps? Kind, gentle souls, waiting on God? (Yeah, we've all known the other kind, too!) Well, here they are. Who? Zechariah and Elizabeth. Old couple without kids. Good people, but old. Seniors quietly living out their religious rituals. Just old folks waiting on God to do something, waiting to die. So. In this way Luke starts the story of Jesus. The gospels start, not with Jesus' ministry, but with the son of that ancient couple. Yes, we read right, their son. She, a little embarrassed by her late, way late pregnancy, he, speechless. But both excited and thankful. A baby's on the way. God doing something about the mess we're in.

We touch bases with a brother or sister today, and speak of God's unseen work to fix our mess. And of God's overwhelmingly evident work, too. And, together, we give thanks that God's work ever advances independently of our appreciation for it.

Carelessness

"So that you may know the truth about the words you were taught," Luke 1:4.

Why doesn't God do something about the mess we're in? I mean, pick a tragedy, any tragedy. Got it? Yes? Good. Now ask, if God's so loving and strong, why didn't God prevent it? Ever hear people conclude: Either God must not love that much, or God must not be that strong ... is God even there? In our despair, what awake human hasn't thought that? What's God even doing?! The Bible is the book about What's God Doing. What God did in the beginning, in the middle, close to the end right now, and in the end. It's the book about arrogant choices humans make (and then blame God for impotent carelessness). It's a big book, because it's a big mess. So Luke takes us back to the God who had a son, named Adam, the arrogant one.

With a brother or sister today we confess the truth of our arrogance, and we repent. We receive forgiveness given freely, washing, cleansing, empowering. And we give thanks for God's other son, Jesus, the humble one.

History

"The birth of Jesus Christ was this way," Matthew 1:18.

Ever wonder about ancestry? How many generations back can you give names without a break? (I can barely do it to 150 years ago.) Before Matthew pens that line about Jesus' nativity, he has already detailed fourteen generations - well, actually, three sets of fourteen generations back. Forty-two. About 2,000 years. About fourteen from Joseph (and Mary) back through Jehoiakim (and Nehushta) and the deportation, about fourteen more through David (and Bathsheba), and another fourteen to Abraham (and Sarah). Baby Jesus, this mortal manchild, comes with some history. Some 4,000 years ago childless seniors, a man and woman, believed God's promise to make of their barrenness an innumerable, blessing nation. So here we are. Through a born child with some history.

Contacting a brother or sister today, we remind each other of God's faithfulness throughout the generations. We remind of the kingdom of heaven, of which we are children. And we give thanks, together.

Dust

"My whole being, praise the Lord! My whole being, praise his holy name!" Psalm 103:1.

All that is within me: bless his holy name! O soul of mine: don't forget all his kindnesses. Remember his forgiveness. Remember his healings. Remember how he delivered you from the pit. O soul of mine: remember his steadfast love, his mercy. Remember the refreshing good he gave. Remember, he moved my transgressions as far away as the skies are from earth. As far as the east is from the west. O Lord God: you know that I'm made of dust. You know my days are like a wildflower - here and then gone, and nobody remembers where it was any more. But your love is from eternity past through eternity future. Let me honor you and keep covenant with you. Your throne, O God, your kingdom in the skies rules over all.

With a brother or sister, today, we share in remembering God's mighty works in our lives. And, together, with all that we are, we give praise and thanks.

2000

"We see Jesus wearing a crown of glory and honor," Hebrews 2:9.

He's wearing that crown, right now. He died (2,000 years ago). God raised Jesus from the dead (2,000 years ago). God seated Jesus at his right hand (2,000 years ago). Jesus' reign began (2,000 years ago). Jesus must continue his reign (2,000 years strong today) through the end of time, until the last enemy, death, is destroyed. And then, Jesus will hand the kingdom over to God, and will become himself also subject to the God who set him to reign. Jesus had said, I will build my church. With his building it, the sacred of heaven broke out into this profane world. His church. Sky kingdom.

With a brother or sister today, we bow together in deep worship of God and his reigning Christ, the King, Jesus. And we look forward to the consummation of the age when all will be made new. And, together, his congregation, we say, Thank You! Forever alive.

Crowned

"The kingdom of God is among you," Luke 17:21.

So Jesus says (it's Jesus here, right?) the kingdom of God wasn't coming in a way that people could say, like, It's right here! Or, There it is, over there! Like, Here's the Roman kingdom, over there's Israel's kingdom, and way over there's God's kingdom! Like, driving along and there's a line across the road, and a sign says, Entering God's Kingdom! No. The kingdom of God (so says Jesus, anyway) is in you. Not just in you, personally. Is among you, all of you, plural. The kingdom of God rests in the people collected from the four corners of earth, from throughout time, who believe, like Abraham did, that God is trustworthy. Who confess Jesus Christ is Lord. Who have been born of water and Spirit. Who have crowned Jesus, king. Who are become subject to the rule of the God of the heavens. His church. Sky kingdom.

As we meet with a brother or sister today, we see our common citizenship in the sky kingdom. This world is not home. And we offer joyful thanks, together, to our King.

Confessant

"Some cried out one thing, some another, for the church was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together," Acts 19:32.

What a churchly mess! Yelling in the chaos, unsure what it was all about, on the cusp of all out riot, a huge mob of pagans rock the city with their chants. But wait a minute: Does it say: church? Yep. Except that most of our English translations say assembly, not church. Yet it's the same exact Bible language word. Which returns us to the point: When Jesus says, I will build my church, he's not talking a new world religion. Rather, he collects human beings from every nation, tribe, language group, culture, race, whose commonality rests in this exclusive confession, Jesus Christ is Lord. And you are become a fellow confessant in that fellowship. Even as we speak, God, through the Spirit of his unique Son, is putting this congregation together. Some assembly required.

With a brother or sister today, we hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering. And, together, we give thanks that God has transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved son. Sky kingdom.

Oracles

"This is he that was in the church in the wilderness," Acts 7:38.

(That's how the King James Version renders the passage.) So, who was in this church? Moses. What wilderness church? Well, it's talking about the hundreds of thousands (millions?) of people collected at Mt. Sinai. After their deliverance from slavery in Egypt, Moses received the living oracles of God there. But church? How can there be a church centuries upon centuries before Christ? Nothing here about deacons or evangelism or Sunday school or ... Exactly the point. (We already noted elsewhere that in Bible language the word, church, just means assembly, right?) Moses met with the people assembled, collected, congregated to hear the oracles of God. Just like Jesus meets with the people whom he delivered from death, now gathered together, collected, assembled by his living Word. Even if it's only two or three congregated in his name. Sky kingdom.

Today, with a brother or sister, we meet to hear the living and active word. To joy in the God of our salvation. And, together, we give thanks that we may be part of the congregation of Christ.