2. Joy to the World is number two on my list. Joy is hard to come by especially in this world full of hardship. Joy doesn’t come all wrapped up with a nice bow on top. It bubbles up from within you by His touch. It is also a choice to be embraced by seeing His face and not looking at the troubles or the lack in your life but by knowing deep in your heart that He came to this earth as a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes laying in a manger for everyone’s salvation. Yes, joy to the world is the joy of knowing the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!
3. I want to be wise like the Wise Men that traveled great distances to bring gifts to Jesus Christ the King. They found written in the skis the birth of the Savior and they believed and then took action. It took them three years to reach Him and nothing would stop these Wise Men from bringing the Messiah the gifts for a Prophet, Priest and King. Myrrh was given to prophets as a gift because of the bitterness that prophets would sometimes speak. Frankincense was given as a gift to the priest because they used it as incense to burn as they approached the altar in worship. Gold was always brought as a gift to kings because it was a valuable, precious metal and it symbolizes wealth and royalty. I want to be like the Wise Men and honor Christ with my gifts of obedience, (like myrrh’s bitterness it is hard to let go of my own desires and ways of doing things) love and devotion (love is valuable and precious and given from the heart it is pure gold) worship (like the sweet aroma of frankincense as I live my life in worship for the Lord) So number 3 on my Christmas list has to be… becoming wise like the Wise
Men!
4. I think to hear the herald angles singing glory to the Risen King and joining in would be an incredible experience. It would beat hands down anything materialist on this earth. Can you imagine what that would sound like? Yes, that is what I want to experience, to sing with angles about how wonderful and beautiful our Lord Jesus is. Wow, two thousand years ago, the angles came to the shepherds tending their flock and told them of the birth of Emmanuel and then the angles began to sing of His great glory! Therefore, number four on my list is definitely to sing with the angles!
5. For Christmas this year I want to become the manger. It’s an odd gift but think about it like this. The manger was carved and built by the carpenter’s hand creating something from a tree to hold nourishment. It wasn’t made from silver or gold and it wasn’t displayed on a fine table for everyone to admire. This manger was found in a barn where Jesus was laid gentle down and the Messiah, the King of all Kings and the Light for this world, the Manna from Heaven is where he rested. To carry this beautiful gift in a humble way is my desire and to be craved and crafted by His hand so others can see The Light of His glorious presence in me. Number five on my Christmas list is to become “The Manger.”
