For Thy pleasure [Updated 2017]
Christmas Series table of contents
Merry Christmas!! I am presenting my Christmas Series again this year. If you want, go to the categories menu and click on the “Christmas” link on the right and look around.
Or, if you prefer, here is a table of my Christmas Series blogs to look through.
- The Most Wonderful Time of the Year http://www.firstofallpray.com/?p=7668
- O Holy Night http://www.firstofallpray.com/?p=7674
- The Forerunner http://www.firstofallpray.com/?p=7676
- According to Your Word http://www.firstofallpray.com/?p=7678
- Joseph http://www.firstofallpray.com/?p=7680
- Emmanuel http://www.firstofallpray.com/?p=7683
- The government http://www.firstofallpray.com/?p=7686
- Bethlehem http://www.firstofallpray.com/?p=7689
- O Little Town of Bethlehem http://www.firstofallpray.com/?p=7695
- No room http://www.firstofallpray.com/?p=7697
- Shepherds http://www.firstofallpray.com/?p=7699
- Interview with the magi, part 1 http://www.firstofallpray.com/?p=7702
- Interview with the magi, part 2 http://www.firstofallpray.com/?p=7704
- Interview with the magi, part 3 http://www.firstofallpray.com/?p=7706
- Heaven greets earth http://www.firstofallpray.com/?p=7708
- For Thy pleasure http://www.firstofallpray.com/?p=8114
- Faithful, joyful, and triumphant http://www.firstofallpray.com/?p=8107
- Christmas Eve http://www.firstofallpray.com/?p=7713
- I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day http://www.firstofallpray.com/?p=7715
May God bless you and keep you safe and sound throughout this holy season, and may you bring honor to Him in your life every day.
Warmly,
Dorothy
Read MoreI Heard the Bells on Christmas Day: Christmas Series Part 18
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote a song on Christmas Day during a tumultuous time in American history—during the height of the Civil War. We, too, like Longfellow, live in a time of great challenge and can also attest to the fact that hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on earth, goodwill to men.
But, like Longfellow, we can take courage: God is not dead, nor doth He sleep. Truly, we can rest assured that in accordance to the Word of God, the wrong shall fail, the right prevail, with peace on earth, good will to men.
I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
And in despair I bowed my head:
“There is no peace on earth,” I said,
“For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.”
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men.”
Till, ringing singing, on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on earth, good will to men!
(Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, 1863)
As you walk closely with the Child of Bethlehem, the Lord Jesus Christ, He will lead you through this fallen world as a light shining in a dark place. Don’t be afraid; He will be with you wherever you go and will manifest through you the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.
Indeed, because of your connection to the Lord, you are part of a great restraining force that has not yet left the earth. Let Him use you in the days ahead to pray for and to reach out in kindness, truth, and grace to a lost and hurting world. He will lead you; just trust Him and follow.
For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. 2 Thessalonians 2:7
Hold your head high this Christmas Day. Your God is alive and well, and your Redeemer lives!
Dorothy
© 2015, Dorothy Frick
To learn more about the circumstances surrounding the life of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow which prompted the writing of this poignant carol, see the following article at the Christian Post.
http://www.christianpost.com/news/i-heard-the-bells-on-christmas-day-111313/
Read MoreHeaven greets Earth: Christmas Series Part 15
“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.” Luke 2:8-9, KJV
Perhaps one of the shepherds had just added wood to the fire; maybe one of the men had just returned with a straying lamb upon his shoulder; perhaps another one had just cracked a joke. Then faster than lightning, they were jolted out of their everyday monotony by a close encounter of the heavenly kind.
Who can even imagine what that must have been like? The sound and smell of sheep, the familiar camaraderie of fellow shepherds, the usual constellations and night breezes, and then, suddenly—Light! Blinding, shimmering, holy light shone all around them—and in the midst of it stood the angel of the Lord. They were terrified.
“And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.” Luke 2:10
Fear not?! I was less afraid when that lion that sneaked up on us last year! one of the shepherds might have said to himself. But strangely, the odd salutation seemed to calm their jittery nerves. Squinting and rubbing their eyes, they strained to make sense of what was happening. Who is this and what’s he saying about good news…something about all people?
“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11
Well, I’ll be, someone must have mused. He’s talking about our own Bethlehem! The shepherds stole glances at one another. A Savior? Born today? Could he be talking about the Messiah? Almost afraid to breathe, they dared not move, intent upon understanding every word coming from the mouth of this heavenly stranger.
“And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” Luke 2:12
Now, there’s something I get—a manger; I’ve filled plenty of those in my time, one of the shepherds might have thought to himself. But who would put a baby in a manger? I don’t get that part at all! Especially if this Child is the Messiah!
“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Luke 2:13-14
Before their very eyes, the sky filled with an enormous company of angels, their voices resounding through the hills, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Hearts pounding out of their chests, the shepherds must have trembled, wept, and stared skyward with mouths agape.
“When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, ‘Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.’” Luke 2:15
How long the angels remained above the shepherds’ encampment is left to speculation. How long before the shepherds could even speak one to another is also unknown. But one thing is perfectly clear; the shepherds knew they had been visited by messengers of the Living God. They understood that they were summoned to witness the intersection of God and Man. Perhaps the old Psalm whispered in their hearts:
“Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him that glory may dwell in our land. Lovingkindness and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Truth springs from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven.” Psalm 85:9-11
“So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger.” Luke 2:16
Maybe the shepherds left one or two of the younger ones with the sheep; nevertheless, it was with great haste that they made their way to town and found the stable. And there was the baby, lying in a manger, just as the angel said.
“When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.” Luke 2:17-19
The small band of rough, plainspoken shepherds related their tale of angels and glory to the mother of the Child and her husband. Others who had already gathered there to see the newborn heard the astonishing story as well. Wonder and awe filled that little shelter; Mary, still a virgin, treasured all that she was hearing as she soaked up everything this motley crew had to say.
“The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.” Luke 2:20
Everyday life beckoned the shepherds back to their post; but as they departed from there, the glory of God welled up within them and they could not help but praise Him for all they had witnessed. Surely God is with men; surely God is with us!
May you, too, experience that God is with you—because He is!
Dorothy
© 2015, Dorothy Frick
Read MoreInterview with the magi, page 3: Christmas Series Part 14
“…we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” …and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. Matthew 2:2b; 9b-10
[Background: Passed down in my family through the millennia is this interview with one of the magi conducted by my many-times-removed, great, great, great, great, etc., forebear, Dorotheonea Fricknacius who was a young reporter for the Jerusalem Journal around the time of Christ. This is the last page of her three-part interview. If you have not done so yet, please scroll down and read pages 1 and 2 of the interview first before you read this.]
Interview with Harar, magi from the East, page 3
Journal: How could the Journal—indeed, evidently nearly all of Jerusalem—miss such an important birth?!?
Harar (not his real name): My fellow magi and I were bewildered by this lack of knowledge as well. Yet the prophecies, the shepherd’s tidings, the Star—all of these events—gave such witness to the unthinkable: that this little Boy was indeed the Jewish Messiah. We could do nothing less than venerate Him who will one day rule the nations!
J: I heard that you gave Him gifts.
H: Absolutely. It is our custom to present tokens of respect to kings to whom we pay homage. Your King Solomon received gifts from many foreign dignitaries, including the Queen of the South, who visited Jerusalem to view his kingdom.
J: Did you bring a gift to Herod, also?
H: He was not the King to whom we were drawn. No.
J: If you don’t mind, would you let us know the manner of gifts that you gave to the Child?
H: Certainly. We offered gold as a tribute, for as your Scriptures say, the government will one day rest upon His shoulders. We presented frankincense, the precious incense of worship, for as your prophets foretold, this small One is Immanuel, God with us. Myrrh, a sacred resin used in anointing the dead—oh, how His mother drew back when we presented this—was to bear witness to the prophecies that this Child was born to one day die for all mankind.
J: So you really believe then, that this Child could be the One for whom we have been waiting?
H: This Child is the One. Our eyes have seen and our hands have touched Him. He is indeed the One who will conquer sin and death. Yes—He is the Messiah!
J: Surely Herod was not aware of this! He never would have sought Messiah’s death!
H: Be that as it may, that night all of my fellow magi and I were warned in our dreams to depart from that country quickly, by a different route than we came—and not to return to Herod. We left at sun up, and having bid the blessed couple farewell, we kissed the Son and departed.
J: The Child…is He…dead?
H: We sent spies back to determine the safety of the Boy and His family. Indeed, Herod had struck, for our spies returned with reports of unspeakable carnage. Infants and little boys lay gutted and dying in the streets. Women, men, older boys, and girls were weeping, wailing, clinging to small, lifeless bodies on every porch…
J: The Child…?
H: The Child…yes. I get overcome whenever I remember the reports of the senseless massacre of so many innocents…Our spies found the shepherd, who had spoken with Joseph, the Child’s father, shortly after we departed. It seems an angel had appeared to Joseph in a dream as well, warning him to take the Child and His mother and flee.
J: Where did they go?
H: Our sources have located them, safe and sound, far from Judea. We are keeping in contact with them as inconspicuously as possible. We want no harm to come to this Child.
J: But where is He?
H: I am sorry, but that information is confidential. Soon enough, however, He will be revealed to Israel and then to the world at the time ordained by Israel’s God. Until then, pray that your nation will not miss, once again, the day of her visitation. And as for you, young lady—be prepared. When the Coming One appears, will you be found ready?
And so ends the interview between my many-times-removed, great, great, great, great, etc., forebear, Dorotheonea Fricknacius and the magi whom she called Harar.
May the majesty, power, and miracle of Christmas overtake your heart and your mind as you, like the magi of old, seek Him with all of your heart.
Dorothy
(Much of the preceding has been fictionalized. The Messiah, however, who was born to die for all is very real. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father but through Him.)
Merry Christmas!
Then you will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me [as a vital necessity] and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will release you from captivity…Jeremiah 29:13-14a, Amplified Bible
© 2015, Dorothy Frick
Read MoreInterview with the magi, page 2: Christmas Series Part 13
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Matthew 2:1-3
[Background: Passed down in my family through the millennia is this interview with one of the magi conducted by my many-times-removed, great, great, great, great, etc., forebear, Dorotheonea Fricknacius, a young reporter for the Jerusalem Journal around the time of Christ. This is page 2 of her three-part interview. If you have not done so yet, please read page 1 of the interview from yesterday’s entry before you read this.]
Interview with Harar, magi from the East, page 2
Harar (not his real name): Throughout Arabia and Persia are magi, kings, and scholars learned in the lore of ancient prophecies and in the intricate portendings of the heavens. There has been a general expectation for over a century throughout the lands east of the Dead Sea that a great Judean Prince would be born in our time. This Man will obtain dominion unlike any before Him. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom which will not be destroyed.
Journal: That sounds like Messiah. But how were you magi, from so many varied nations, so certain that the time had come for such a Prince’s birth?
H: Ancient seers throughout Arabian and Persian history have foretold that a scepter would arise again in Judah. Indeed, one of my own country’s prophets, Balaam, left record of this One to come, saying, “I shall see Him, but not now; I shall behold Him, but not nigh; there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel…Out of Jacob shall come He that shall have dominion.”
J: Yes, come to think of it, my people have that very prophecy recorded in our own sacred Scriptures.
H: I knew to look for a Star—a very special Star to the west—proclaiming this One’s arrival. As my father and my grandfather before me, I regularly studied the night skies, searching for the one out of Jacob.
J: When did you first spy the Star?
H: Oddly enough, it had arisen more than a year before I saw it, in skies further to the east. Magi from Persia and eastern Arabia began arriving in Moab with one goal: to follow the Star. I met them there on my frequent business in the region, and I was shocked but deeply stirred by their tidings. The Star was beckoning to those who would heed: Come at once to the land of Jacob. I had no choice but to drop my business dealings and join my fellow magi. We had but one goal: to behold and to touch the Desire of nations.
J: You, a star gazer and believer in magic arts, along with others of the same persuasion, actually believed you would find in Israel, a nation that historically outlaws such practices, One who would command your respect and attention?
H: We knew He was there. If we found Him, however, we would not merely pay attention; we would pour out our hearts to Him in adoration.
J: Any luck?
H: At first, none. No one in this land of prophetic fulfillment could give us any coherent direction. Truly, among ourselves, we magi wondered if those to whom this Child was sent actually cared about His advent at all.
J: You did eventually find a Child, though, did you not?
H: Yes. Herod had heard of our inquiries and sent for us. His chief priests and scribes had informed him from Scripture that the Christ would be born in Bethlehem. From our collective data, Herod deduced the Child was nearing two years. He then commissioned us to make haste to Bethlehem to search carefully for the Child. When we found Him, we were to report immediately back to Herod.
J: So Herod knew you were looking for a Child, not intending to plant one.
H: Absolutely! We continued from Jerusalem, now traveling south to Bethlehem, following the Star.
J: Describe the Star to refresh our readers’ memories, please.
H: Oh, how could one forget such a display! The Star was more lustrous than any in the heavens, and boasted a tail that extended far below its upper peak. It stood low on the horizon, ever beckoning west to those of us from the East, but for those in Jerusalem it took its stand to the South over tiny Bethlehem, pleading with any who would pay heed, Come! A Child has been born! As we drew near to the little town, we were amazed that so few seemed to pay the Star any attention at all. “Oh, that?” they would say. “That Star’s been in the same spot now for nearly two years. We’re used to it by now.”
Despite the nonchalance of most of the people, we met a humble shepherd who lit up like the Star itself when we asked about a Child king. He took us with great joy to the makeshift home of a carpenter and his wife and their young Son. On the way he told us tales of angels radiating heavenly light far more brilliant than the luster of the Star. The angels directed him and his peers to this same Child, who according to the angels, was none other than the Savior, Christ the Lord. We knew it was true as we entered the home and met Mary His mother and saw the young Child.
We immediately fell in worship; we could not speak other than in praises to God. His mother, a young girl, to be sure, stood humbly, even embarrassed, yet dignified, obviously soaking up all that she was seeing. After some time, her husband extended his hand to us and allowed us to hold the Child. Such lowly beginnings for the very Son of God! It made utter sense, though. The King—yea, the Savior of the human race—had to be clothed with humility so that the lowest of the low could rest assured that they, too, were included in His embrace. Likewise, the highest of the mighty would be brought to their knees embracing His revelation.
To be continued…
© 2015, Dorothy Frick
(The preceding has been fictionalized.)
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