The curtain now is rising on the greatest story told.
Of how the Son of God would come, by prophets once of old.
The true and perfect story of God’s love for everyone,
Is wrapped in swaddling clothes and is God’s own dear Son.
This little boy would save the world and fill the promised Word.
So clap your hands and sing His praise – a miracle occurred!
One of the things young actors learn about performing is the importance of an audience. In live theater you never know what kind of response you’ll get until it happens and each time it’s performed the audience reaction can be different.
In the drama that has unfolded over these past few weeks of Advent, the characters have been introduced – the stage set – all the important messages have been expounded upon and now it’s time to present it to the largest crowd known in the history of man. How will it be received? Will folks look at it as just another fable? Will it have any relevance in their own lives? Will they take it to heart and tell others about it?
The Christmas story has been portrayed in many different ways over the centuries. I think there are two main reasons it has had such a long run. First of all, it’s a true story. It really happened! I know this because God inspired men to write about it through His Holy Spirit. It has stood the test of time. Even though Christmas is slowly getting shrouded by commercialism – the plot never changes and it still commands an audience.
Secondly, it’s the greatest love story ever told. It shows us how much God loves us – how He arranged for our redemption – how He came to us in the flesh and became like us (only perfect) – how He was subjected to humiliation, scorn and died a horrific death – and how He conquered death and rose again, just as we will after our death,
The curtain is about to go up again in a week. We are the audience. Will we receive it with rave reviews or turn it aside? Trust me, this is the best ticket in the world. If you believe by faith, you’ll find that this simple story has an amazing ending!
Originally posted on 12/17/14 by atimetoshare.me by Kathy Boecher
The other night we went out into the darkness of the country for a Christmas party and was reminded of just how dark the night can be. There was also a blanket of fog covering the landscape and at times it was hard to get our bearings. The lack of light can leave us helpless and sometimes lost.
On a night in Bethlehem, so many years ago, the countryside was dark. The only lights came from the sky. Lonely shepherds rested their heads upon the soft grass, while animals gently snuggled together to keep warm. Suddenly a star appeared that outshone any other in the sky. Some call it a super nova which tends to light the sky like the sun, but I imagine this star had enough light to illuminate the entire world. It was the light intended to lead the shepherds to Jesus – a light to send the message to the astrologers in the east – a light to spread the great news of the Son of God’s arrival to the entire globe.
Living in the Midwest, we are exposed to long winters with a lack of sunlight. When we go through many days without it, we become depressed, moody, downright cranky. Many of us suffer from a lack of Vitamin D. We need light to survive.
Jesus is the light of the world. He is the one who gives meaning to our lives. Through Him we receive forgiveness from the darkness of sin and we are brought to the light of eternal life with Him.
John 8:12 “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
The prophet said it plainly. The Son of God would come
To be the perfect sacrifice for each and every one.
The words have been fulfilled. The Lamb of God was slain;
Our sins have all been washed away and we have hope again.
I once in poverty did lay; my heart was full of need.
He came and took my sins away and now I’m rich indeed.
He gave His richest treasure – His one and only Son.
He is my greatest pleasure. With Him I now am one.
The gift of love lay quietly upon a mound of hay.
His throne above was left behind so He the price could pay.
The King of Heaven came to Earth to wash our sins away.
A precious child, the Son of God, was born on Christmas Day.
Kathy Boecher
As my old body tells me that it’s time to settle down, I wonder of the time that’s left to me.
That even though my zest is gone, my eyes and ears are dim, my aches and pains will never let me be,
But when we look at Jesus and the gift He brings to us, I can’t hold back the joy that sets me free.
His Word is filled with promises that He intends to keep. He gave His life to save both you and me.
I wonder if I’d know Him when He was a baby small, the Son of God who died without one plea,
But He rose again and conquered death for all eternity.
So I’ll go forth with courage and share this lovely news, with everyone who wants to hear from me,
About the gift from God Himself. He promises if we follow Him, we’ll live eternally.
KATHY BOECHER
Married at an early age and widowed for 84 years, Anna must have been nearing 100 or more. As I get older I and am fully aware of the toll age takes on a body. Not only are we wearing out physically, but our tempers are shorter – our patience can be non-existent – we forget things – our hearing and eyesight fail – body parts have to be replaced. It’s definitely not easy growing old.
Anna had been without a husband for a long time, but she was still an active member in the temple. She worked as a priestess and a prophetess. This aging woman never stopped serving God even after her world fell apart. The first time she saw Jesus, she knew immediately that He was the Messiah. Certainly the Holy Spirit was already working in her heart to give her that knowledge.
I wonder if I would have recognized Him. How often do we receive and treasure scripture about our loving Savior, and quickly forget Him? Anna wouldn’t be stopped by the physical things that could’ve held her back. Her energy came from a greater source. Upon seeing this child, she went to tell the entire town about the birth of the Messiah. I guess you could call her one of the first evangelists – along with the shepherds who had already spread the initial message of Jesus’ birth.
The beauty of Anna is in her complete dedication to serving God and she wanted to share her love for Him with everyone she came in contact with.
Today might be a great day for us to share the Good News with a friend or co-worker It’s too good to keep it to ourselves.
Thanks, Anna, for setting the bar high enough for us old fogies to reach. You are an inspiration to those of us who may think we’re too old to share the Gospel.
It seems we wait forever, for things we want right now,
It is our chief endeavor as through each day we plow.
Our hearts are disappointed when things don’t go our way,
but God’s own Son anointed, made sure our debt to pay.
When life has got us longing for all it has to give,
When every new day dawning, our dreams we want to live,
We turn our thoughts to Jesus and know that all is done.
He listens and He sees us, the victory has been won.
Some folks forget that Jesus was a Jew. His mom and step dad were both from the lineage of King David, so they were steeped in Jewish tradition and law . It was the custom for a male child to be circumcised and given a name on the 8th day after his birth. So Mary and Joseph went to Jerusalem, about 40 miles from Bethlehem. It was there that the family was introduced to Simeon.
What we know about Simeon is that he was a devout man – he loved God. We also hear that he was just – which meant he was upright in the community and followed the law. The Bible also refers to him as being filled with the Spirit. He had been waiting for the Messiah to come for what seemed like an eternity. It had been revealed to Simeon that he would see the Savior before his own death. Every day brought him closer to death and he may have doubted that revelation.
When Simeon sees the family, he immediately recognizes Jesus as the Savior of the world. His words of praise and thanksgiving to God show his gratitude for this one final glimpse of the One who would change the world forever.
So often it seems that our prayers will never be answered. We go through the motions of asking God, but sometimes we lose heart when we don’t get an immediate response or an answer that we want. This fellow had been waiting a lifetime for an answer and now at the end it was finally revealed to him.
Dear God, You always keep your promises. Help me to pray continually for your assistance in my life. I know you’re in control and that your timing isn’t always the same as mine. Remind me daily of the greatest Christmas gift ever – the promise that has already been fulfilled – Jesus! Amen.
He was like any ordinary little boy born with ten fingers and toes. To His mother, more than a miracle – to His dad, a stepson who would definitely follow in His Father’s footsteps. To the shepherds He was the Messiah they had waited for so long.
A protagonist in a drama is the hero of the story – the main character – the one who goes to bat for someone else – the one who saves the day. This tiny baby seemed an unlikely candidate for that position. He was nothing out of the ordinary. In fact He looked like more of a minor character than the main one. He cried, he nursed, he slept, he fussed like any other human baby. He would grow into a man someday, but how could one born into such poverty become the King of the World?
Nothing about this story is ordinary. It’s packed full of miracles. The first being that God impregnated an ordinary young girl with His only begotten Son. This is impossible for us to comprehend and one of the many things that we must believe simply by faith.
What makes this little baby so special is that He is the Son of God and Son of Man. He was the perfect one to save us from death and hell. His sinless quality made him the spotless lamb that God required. His human attributes allowed Him to feel every human emotion (except sin), every human pain from the tiniest scratch to the blows of the lash upon His back and the spikes being driven into His hands and feet. He was perfectly crafted to be just like our brother, yet He had all the attributes of His heavenly Father and could eliminate our sin. Yes, He could walk on water and turn the storms into calm, but He also got tired and thirsty and wept just like we do.
Because of His perfection, we have an advocate – a hero – a brother – who will take our place in every situation. All we have to do is ask.
I’m one of those old dogs who is constantly learning. I’ve spent much of my time on earth learning to be patient, but I never seem to get it.
I had another lesson yesterday as my group of 12 children, all third grade and younger worked on a shortened version of the Christmas story. Before rehearsing we talked a little about our need for a Savior – we talked about sin – they jiggled and fidgeted into their fluffy sheep costumes – they giggled at how they looked- we talked again about how long everyone had waited for Jesus and how they almost gave up – they played with their head coverings and twisted uncomfortably – we talked about patience and how hard it is to wait for Christmas. One shepherd complained he didn’t have the right costume while another completely dismantled his costume and by the time our talk was over he no longer was wearing it.
My old mind was trying to keep it together, but I was wondering to myself why they don’t close down school for the month of December. Kids’ minds certainly aren’t focused on learning.
Then it hit me. My impatience wasn’t allowing me to enjoy the beauty in this. We all need a Savior no matter what age we are – we have all sinned and don’t deserve to be forgiven, but we have a gracious God who loves us anyway – we are all impatient for Christmas in more ways than one.
So as the angels spoke about getting ready for the Savior with their halos tilted off to one side – and the sheep talked about how much better David’s singing was then their current caretakers – and the shepherds stirred all over the stage instead of pretending to sleep – I had to stop for just a moment and think about how imperfect we all are and how much we really do need Jesus.
Lord, please give me patience – right now!!
There were thousands, maybe millions, singing praise to God on high.
Every voice was clear and perfect, as they gave their royal cry.
We too like those holy angels, sing of peace on earth to men,
And we wait like little children ’til our Savior comes again.
KATHY BOECHER
In Greek theater, the chorus was the part of the cast which moved the story along. They were the “voice” of the drama, and spoke or sang in unison so their message had to be clear and understandable.
In God’s Nativity story we hear about a multitude of heavenly hosts. This was most likely a cast of thousands or even more. Each voice was perfect and clear as a bell. There was no question as to what the message was. We don’t know if they were singing, because the Bible says they were praising God and saying – but usually praise involves lifting your voice in song.
These angels had to be thrilled at what was taking place. They were there at the beginning, when their brother Lucifer chose to think he was better than the rest of them and his Creator – and decided to branch out on his own. He was kicked out of heaven and destined to a life of misery that would last forever.
At that time, God promised His people that a Savior would come to take away the evil that had infiltrated His world. It was quite a while before that happened, so I’m certain the angels were happy beyond belief when it finally did.
I’m fortunate to be part of a church that has an amazing choir. The voices are perfectly blended and create wonderful sounds. Can you imagine the sound of an angelic choir? We’ve never heard the likes of it in our lives – but the day is coming when He will appear again and the voices of those angels will sing once more. Come soon, Lord, Jesus!
There were thousands, maybe millions, singing praise to God on high.
Every voice was clear and perfect, as they gave their royal cry.
We, like those holy angels, sing of peace on earth to men,
And wait like little children ’til our Savior comes again.
KATHY BOECHER©
A cameo appearance is usually reserved for someone who has already made their mark. In this case, Gabriel, the Archangel had appeared in Old Testament times to Daniel and Ezekiel, but now was his greatest hour. He was referred to as the “messenger” angel and boy did he have a great message.
Things were not going well for the Jews. They continued to live in bondage, this time to a super power -the Roman Empire. Many of them had been taxed to the hilt and the promise of a Messiah seemed remote to them. They had pretty much given up.
Things are much like that for us as well. We don’t live in bondage, but we see signs of evil all around us – man’s inhumanity to man – irresponsible behavior – not following the law – wars and rumors of war – massive destruction through weather and other natural events. The news is full of tragedy and destruction every day. Rarely do we hear anything heartwarming.
We know that our Messiah is coming back. We don’t know when, but we can count on it. Many of us can’t wait to get to heaven. Many of us aren’t ready to leave this world. Many think this is as good as it gets. God has promised us a new heaven and a new earth and God always keeps His promises. We can count on it.
It’s time for some good news for a change – tidings of great joy!
Within the manger we can see – good tidings from our God.
In meekness and humility – the angels now applaud.
Sweet Jesus, God’s own Son – in human form we see.
This little child would save the world from all iniquity.
KATHY BOECHER
Shepherds fending off their sleep, while they tended all their sheep.
Suddenly were startled by the hosts of angels in the sky.
“Do not fear,” was said to them – “We bring good news and peace to men.”
They followed God’s bright star above – and came to see their God of love.
In lowly manger there He lay, upon a scratchy mound of hay.
This King of glory promised long, had come to earth to right our wrong.
Again we wait for Him to come to take us to our heavenly home.
May we be ready for that day, pressing on where angels pray.
So many times we turn away a stranger. we push them out and never let them in.
Yet one so small lay in a lowly manger, so He could touch our stone-like hearts of sin.
He came in poverty to wash away our sins. He lived that way so we’d have wealth unknown.
When we push Him out you know the devil wins. We simply cannot get through life alone.
So open up your heart to Him today. Our Jesus wants to make His home right there.
He loves us even when we turn away. He cares for us and answers every prayer.
KATHY BOECHER©
You didn’t miss a cue – you considered every part.
You set the stage with characters that touched the very heart.
You put it all in action. You even wrote the script.
You blocked it out and staged it, so man can’t contradict.
We each have starring roles in the drama of this life.
In birth you showed your love for us – your passion in your strife.
KATHY BOECHER
An understudy is defined as an actor who studies a part to replace the usual actor if necessary. In the story of the Nativity – Joseph is the understudy. He took the place of the Heavenly Father and acted as stepfather of Jesus through His early life.
We aren’t told much about him, except that he was a righteous man and followed directions to the letter. When he discovers the condition of his soon to be bride, he doesn’t run away or give up on her. Instead of subjecting her to disgrace – not to mention the possibility of a death by stoning – he decides to break the engagement quietly. It’s then that we see the kind of man God has chosen to be the earthly father of His Son.
Joseph has undoubtedly been anguishing over what to do. He knows he wasn’t responsible for Mary’s pregnancy – he wonders about her faithfulness – he wants to do what’s right and yet his heart has been torn to pieces. He’s exhausted by confusion, anxiety and depression so he escapes into sleep.
Enter Gabriel – the messenger angel who has been making his voice heard a lot lately. He tells Joseph not to be afraid. What an opening line! Here you are standing in front of a holy angel and he tells you not to be afraid. Joseph seems to be calmed by these words, for he doesn’t say a word – he simply listens. Gabriel tells him that the child Mary has conceived is from God and Joseph has been chosen to stand in for Him – so to speak – and raise Him as his own adopted Son.
Joseph had the answer he needed to move ahead with his marriage plans and father Mary’s unborn Son. He also showed great leadership in his role as father, by being the one who guided his stepson’s earthly path in the ways of His Heavenly Father.
It’s not easy being an understudy. You have to do everything the main character does, but you rarely get a chance to put your work into action. God gave Joseph this special opportunity to take the stage for a brief time so that His will would be done.
Lord, give me a faith like Joseph’s – receiving what you have in store for me with quiet acceptance. Let me be still and know that you are God. Amen!
Picture this – a man who thinks nothing of building a kingdom for himself, built on the lives of others. A sinister character with total power as his constant driving force. He has no morals – no ethics – no value for human life – extreme political savvy and knows all the right buttons to push to achieve an end result that will benefit him alone. Hmm, sounds like many of our current leaders, but this one lived over 2000 years ago. His name was Herod, the great.
This guy was a real winner. He used his talent as a manipulator to maintain his status with the Roman empire along with being able to rule a country of people that despised him for over 30 years. He stopped at nothing to advance his political career, but along with obtaining great power, he became obsessed with the fear that others were trying to usurp him. He killed three of his own sons and seven other of his close relatives. He even had his Jewish wife murdered, because he thought she had been unfaithful to him.
Herod was also known for his great talent as an architect and builder. He is responsible for the building of a temple for the Jews – a system of aqueducts – many impressive structures and the remarkable mountain fortress at Masada. All of these projects required money, so the Jews were heavily taxed.
This, along with the fact that Herod wasn’t a Jew, but a descendant of Esau, made him extremely unpopular with the citizens of Jerusalem.
However, this unlikely character in the Nativity story was an important piece of the puzzle. Every great plot has a villain and Herod fit the bill perfectly. He was the one who set the wheels in motion for more taxes – a census – and finally the massacre of thousands of innocent children in search of the Christ child, whom he thought was out to take over his throne.
Dear, God, in your wisdom you’ve determined a time and place for everything. You are the ultimate architect, who designs our destiny. It is because of your plan that our salvation was set in place and you used the most unlikely characters to carry out that plan. Thank you for working everything together for our good. Amen
Arms raised, reaching up to heaven.
Pleading for forgiveness,
Longing for deliverance.
Eyes surveying heaven’s darkest recesses.
Mind in turmoil, pain and agony.
Out of the depths I cry to you, oh, Lord.
Release me from the sin that clings to me.
The weight of the transgressions rests on heavy shoulders.
The sting of death pierces his side.
He dies taking every sin to the grave.
Death is swallowed in victory.
He lives again and beckons from above
To come to his warm, welcoming arms of love.
Kathy Boecher
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