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Good morning, Father.

Children are an amazing gift from You.

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 role 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, lead 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 put the Magi outside the stable. They were the last to reach Jesus, probably as late as two years after His’ birth. When they got to Jesus’ house, they worshiped and gave Him precious gifts.

This year, I have placed a figurine of a girl inside 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. “O Come Let Us Adore Him, Christ The Lord.”

“Ascribe to the Lord the glory of His name; bring an offering and come before Him.”
(1 Chronicles 16:29a, CSB).

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

Good morning, Father.
Children are an amazing gift from You.

A 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. 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  me.”

“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, The Babe,
Janet Waters, Brentwood Baptist Church member/Prayer Room Intercessor

Good morning,  Father.

Children are an amazing gift from You.

Father, I want to take a prayer journey to Bethlehem with my preschoolers. Help me teach them how to worship the KING this Christmas. True worship expresses itself in giving. The wise men followed a star to find the King. They were so enthralled with His majesty and holiness that they brought Jesus gifts:

Gold – representing the treasure of the heart; the most precious of metals
Frankincense – used to worship God; incense as a symbol of prayer
Myrrh – used to preserve the body at death; symbolizes death and resurrection;
could mean “take up our cross daily” and choose to trust Him

“Come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD our maker.”
(Psalm 95:6, CSB)

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