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Prayer for you, have you met the Shepherd of mankind?
Praise God, for Baby Jesus!

Preschoolers love to act out the Christmas story. As you pass out costumes, everyone wants to be the angel, Mary, Joseph, shepherds, sheep, cow, donkey and maybe a few chicks. The scene is complete until someone decides to be the doctor who wraps the baby doll in cloth saying to Mary and Joseph, “Congratulations, it’s a God!”

Preschoolers love to be the shepherds. Cool sackcloth to wear, crazy head scarf and a shepherd hook to hold! Throw in a few curly sheep and their moms better have their cameras ready! Do you wonder, though, why God chose to share the message He proclaimed as He did to whom He did? Shepherds were a despised class with a bad reputation, who sometimes got confused with what is mine and what is thine. Their work prohibited them to observe Jewish ceremonial laws and temple rituals. Interestingly, these shepherds were in the same fields where David had been called to tend to God’s flock, Israel, when an angel of the Lord stood upon earth beside them and the Glory of the Lord shown around them.

Can you imagine? But God wasn’t bringing them fear, He was bringing them Good News of eternal joy, a gift, the Messiah, the Babe in a manger–a personal relationship inviting them to come into His Presence through His Son, the Savior, Messiah, and Lord, who would be available to all. This event was too important to be heralded by one angel. All heaven was interested in the departure of its Prince and marveled at the grace of the Father who sent Him. So to announce the coming of Eternal Peace, a Heavenly Host–God’s Army–appeared giving Glory to God in the highest and blessing on God and peace upon man. When the Heavenly Host left, the shepherds said, “Let’s go!”

Have you ever thought about Mary’s perspective on this night? If Luke interviewed Mary years after Jesus’ birth, what did she treasure in her heart? What did she tell him about the shepherds and angels? Did her memory evoke her exhaustion, her newfound mother’s love intermixed with the surprise of shepherds arriving and talking among themselves nonstop? Wow, it’s just like the angel said, a baby in a feeding box. Never seen that before! And as their story unfolded, did Mary ask, “Do you want to hold Him?” You know how new mothers are.

I have to wonder, did these shepherds of sheep realize they had met the Shepherd of mankind? Jesus is the Good Shepherd (John 10:14), Chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4), Great Shepherd (Hebrews 13:20), and the One Shepherd (John 10:16). I have to believe their encounter with the Babe forever changed them. They were now some of the earliest evangelists testifying to God’s work. Their response exemplifies the awe that should fill anyone who hears Jesus’ story. Why? Once you meet Jesus, you can’t say the same.
(Loosely based on The Day God Became a Baby by David O. Dykes)

1. God has delivered His Good News invitation to you today.
2. What is your response to His RSVP?

In the name of Jesus, Immanuel,
Janet Waters, Brentwood Baptist Church member/Prayer Room Intercessor

Prayer for you, drop what you are doing to stand in awe and worship.
Praise God on your journey to Bethlehem.

I have a nativity set that I put out every Christmas. As I take the figurines out of the box, I can’t help but wonder about this odd assemblage of people. What kind of relationship with God did they have to merit such a prominent roll in His story?

First, we’ll take out Baby Jesus. He is after all Savior, Christ and Lord. Place Him in the manger in the stable. Stables, being dark and dirty, remind us of the kind of place the Messiah has come.

Beside Jesus, let’s place Mary, His mother. Although a young girl, when she was told of God’s plan for her life, she responded with faith, obedience, and praise.

As we set out Joseph, Mary’s husband, we remember he was a righteous man. His faith, being stronger than his circumstances, led to instant obedience to what was revealed to him.

In the corner of the stable, I place the shepherds. They were open to God’s message of hope, readily heard the angels’ good news, and immediately responded as they set out to find the Babe.

I set the Magi outside the stable. They were the last to arrive–maybe as late as two years after Jesus’ birth. When they found Jesus, they worshiped and gave Him precious gifts.

This year, I have placed a figurine of a girl in the stable. She represents me. I have to ask myself, how do I respond to God’s interruptions in my life? If my life is connected to Him, I, too, will respond out of faith, obedience, and with praise. Being in partnership with God for His redemption purposes is a precious gift to bring Jesus. “O Come Let Us Adore Him, Christ the Lord.”

“Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah the Lord.” (Luke 2:11, CSB)

In the name of Jesus, Messiah, the Promised One,
Janet Waters, Brentwood Baptist Church member/Prayer Room Intercessor

Prayer for you, as you journey to Bethlehem.
Praise God, for a spirit of all things Christmas.

Legend of the Candy Cane

August was a candy maker in Cologne, Germany. And one Christmas Eve, many, many years ago, he brought a special gift to the grand cathedral in Cologne. It was the very first candy cane . . . and August had made it himself.

“I gave it the shape of the letter ‘J,’ the first letter of Jesus’ name.” August told the king. “And, as you can see, when I turn it upside down, it becomes a shepherd’s staff. Jesus, you know, is our Good Shepherd.”

“It is made of pure, white peppermint to remind us that Jesus is pure–the Son of God! But it is also striped with red. That reminds us of the blood Jesus shed for you and for me,” August concluded.

“I see!” the king replied, smiling broadly. “It stands for JESUS!”

In the name of Jesus, Messiah, the Promised One,
Janet Waters, Brentwood Baptist Church member/Prayer Room Intercessor

Prayer for you, as you journey to Bethlehem.
Praise God, the Light.

Do you have a Christmas tree and what color are the lights–white or multi-colored? Maybe you even have a silver aluminum tree with a color wheel disc that changes its color. My mother-in-law had one of those. I loved it!

Do you decorate your tree? My tree has a lot of ornaments with sentimental value. Some of them I bought the first year my husband and I were married; others signify milestones in my kids’ lives; and then there are gift ornaments from children we taught in preschool Sunday School. All are precious.

I have presents under my tree that I give to people I love. It gives me great delight to pick each one out and then have joy when they are opened–even the funny gifts.

In God’s mansion of many rooms, I wonder if He has trees that glow with His light. What if our souls are the ornaments that radiate the light of His Love? Gazing at them would inspire awe and wonder.

Maybe God’s trees have gifts, too, and they are created and handpicked to give to others through us. Gifts that contain Himself–salvation, love, hope, compassion, restoration, healing, courage, wisdom. And, as believers, you know the list is never ending.

So, this Christmas deliver God’s gifts to someone He designed them for with great love and delight. True worship expresses itself in giving. Let’s share what we know about Jesus and go worship the King!

“He (John) was not the light, but he came to testify about the light. The true light that gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.” (John 1:8-9, CSB)

In the name of Jesus, Light of Life,
Janet Waters, Brentwood Baptist Church member/Prayer Room Intercessor