Prince of Peace

We need courage these days. The future scares us, when we think about it, sometimes. We need to regain confidence, trust. We need to be reminded that God will still be with us in the days to come.

Joseph was caught up in a worldly way of thinking. Crestfallen because his betrothed had become pregnant without him, he began contemplating how to end the relationship with Mary, Thinking she would suffer enough shame, he resolved to just walk away. He was going to be a nice guy about it all. But...when he was made aware that the child within her womb was “conceived by the Holy Spirit,” (Matthew 1:20) he was reassured. That dream gave him courage.

When Mary was visited by the angel Gabriel, she couldn’t understand that the Holy Spirit would “overshadow” her. Her heart was filled to overwhelming and she responded to it all by saying, “I am the Lord’s servant… May it be with me as you have said.” (v. 38) She gained courage.

The shepherds are pictured as having become paralyzed by their experience -- at least at first. Imagine them suddenly being surrounded by a holy light as this heavenly being enters their presence. And then, after telling them to go to Bethlehem to see the savior, “the heavenly host appeared” and started to sing! (Luke 2:13) Perhaps it was the message of the song --”peace on earth” -- that finally calmed their fears; but...something gave them courage!

May we find courage as well. In this season of great joy, may we be filled with a confidence that will draw us forward through the days. May we trust the heavenly way of thinking rather than the worldly way. May we find encouragement where there seem to be so many reasons for doubt. And may the blessings of Christmas make us all as bold as the shepherds who left the stable after seeing the Baby “glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen.” (Luke 2:20)

And may you have courage to add your blessing to the world, that others may know not to fear!

Christmas is not about Santa Clause, but, there is “a spirit of Christmas.” Christmas as it is celebrated today has little to do with the biblical stories about the Birth of Christ, but, the Birth is very worth celebrating. Christmas is a joyful time, but, it is also deep. Deeper than we tend to think.

The Birth of Christ is not only about the coming of the Messiah to the world, it is the Incarnation. We are given many clues as to what our Messiah is like, and it is very relevant to try to understand the Incarnation. Who Christ is can help us understand what it is to be a follower of Jesus. And exploring the idea of the Incarnation helps us get a grip on why God came in human form; what God’s purpose is through the Incarnation; and, what our purpose becomes as we learn about Jesus, and as we respond with faith in Him.

Think of an art gallery. May this book be like that too...different images in different wings of the gallery. There may be some redundancy, every creche, or, nativity may look similar, but even a little bit of difference can help you understand something more about the scene.

My hope for this book is that the reader will see the pictures I have put together, and, the images I believe God wants us all to see. The big picture may not be as perfect or as complete as some might like it to be, but I believe it can still give us what we need to see. And when we see it, it can inspire us… It can inspire us to be more than before, to feel closer to God, and to gain insights into the journey of our faith.

Like a gallery of favorite artwork by a painter, please, enter in and take a look at what I have to share.