Replies

I had to go looking for this. I have not really saved them on my puter...*grin*

Day 4
Thursday, December 28, 2000

On the 4th day of Christmas my true love gave to me........

Four Calling Birds

The Four Gospels: 1) Matthew, 2) Mark, 3) Luke, and 4) John, which proclaim the Good News of God's reconciliation of the world to Himself in Jesus Christ.

Devotional by:

Teresa Riordan
Buffalo, NY USA

"And she gave birth to her first born son, and she wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." Luke 2:7kjv

The cave was a cold and dark place, certainly not the place that Mary expected to give birth to the Savior of Israel. Had not the angel told her "the Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God" (Luke 1:35)? Certainly no one could expect the Savior would be found in such a common place.

The wooden feeding trough was overflowing with damp, musty hay, hardly a suitable bed for the Christ. How could this stable, this ordinary manger, this simple bed of hay be the throne for the New King of Israel? Yet, outside the sound of angels filled the air, they were proclaiming the birth to the shepherds in the fields, "Glory to God in the Highest." The shepherds came seeking the promise proclaimed by the angels. The hay-filled manger had become a holy place, because of His presence in it. It was the King that drew the shepherds from the fields, the stable was no longer common or ordinary. It was the throne room for the Most high.

"Mary treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart" (Luke 2;19)

Only a King willing to humble Himself, and enter into the ordinary, only a King willing to occupy a bed of hay could consider making His home in the human heart. How fitting that scripture tells us that this birth would be "a sign to us."

Jesus BECAME the light that shines into the darkest corners, showing us the hay and stubble that fills our splintered wooden hearts. Only as we allow Him to reach deeper and deeper into our lives, can the Spirit of God come and light a fire, burning the Hay and stubble. He will soften the wooden manger of our heart so there is only room for that babe. If we yield to Him, that babe will become Lord of our life. And like the manger we will become a holy place.

As we now prepare for a New Year, let each of us that calls Jesus "Lord," allow the Spirit of God to "overshadow" our lives, let us "ponder" the miracle of the ordinary made Holy and set aside as a throne for the Savior. What a Savior! What a Lord!

Prayer:

Father, Savior and Spirit.

We praise you and Bless you, we glorify your Holy name. You have reached down in love to your children, You have granted us the privilege of making our hearts your home. Allow us the grace to allow you to work in us and through us in the coming year. Never let us forget that we are only Holy because You are with us and in us. Apart from you we can do nothing.
Amen

Prayer by: Teresa Riordan

Suggested Scripture Reading for Today
[Psalms: am: 72; pm: 111, 113] [Isa 28:9-11] [Rev 21:9-21] [Luke 1:26-38]

Here is what you can do, if you wish. As soon as one of these unfortunately poorly-written and poorly thought out articles are put out, post one of your own that is near to the topic. People would then have a choice as to what to comment upon.

BTW Is it true that "swaddling clothes" were strips of cloth used to make the "wicks" of candles in that day. Hence the "swaddling clothes" out of which came the Light of the world.

...making His home in the human heart.

That's beautiful writing, RnMom. Obviously your talents extend beyond Free Republic.

Merry Christmas! 8~)