Tag: hope

Oh, Those Pop Quizzes

Posted on by Dorci

Remember being in school, having gotten to the end of the semester, maybe the year. You walk into the classroom and sit down, thinking it’s going to be just another ho-hum day, when the teacher walks to the front of the class and announces there’s going to be a pop quiz on everything you’ve learned (or haven’t) up to that point. Soon you find out exactly how well you’ve been paying attention.

I recently had one of those days, not in school, but in life. 

I woke up on a Friday, looking forward to the weekend, and instead found myself hours later in a hospital bed hearing the doctor tell me news I never expected – I’d had a stroke. 

Suddenly I was faced with the constant choice, every minute of every day, with every new twist and turn, to believe what my God had taught me the last 32 years, or not. How well had I truly internalized what I’d read and heard; how well had I learned my lessons in previous “quizzes?” Did I believe He was with me, that His love was true, that in Him my suffering had a purpose, that He would never leave me or forsake me? 

Had I truly walked with my God, my Father, my Savior, my Lord, or had I been kidding myself? 

In the last three months I’ve had a few bad days, when it’s all been just too much, too overwhelming, too “unfair.”

But for the most part I’ve looked around and seen God’s grace and mercy in a myriad of ways. So much grace and mercy. I’ve felt His presence, His indwelling Holy Spirit, giving me joy and hope, even in the face of reasons to have very little.

There are many of those stories to tell, and God willing, I will. 

But the good news is my faith has once again been proven to be real. If it were never real, if it was only a “said” faith – in word only – but no real belief, no indwelling and sealing by the Holy Spirit, I surely would have dropped out by now. 

Oh, I’ve had days where I questioned, I’ve been angry, but God’s been there even in the middle of that. His understanding and compassion no one can fathom. I am still His child and He is still my Father, and no one can separate me from His love.

For a while I’ve kept a flip calendar that has a new scripture for each day. I have yet to flip the page from the one it was on the day my life changed. 

“I will say of the LORD, 
‘He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.'”
Psalm 91:2

Those words have been a reminder to me every day where my hope lies. 

So, when the next trial pops into your life, will you be ready? When your faith is tested, will you persevere because you’ve been learning to trust Him all along? Are you preparing now by seeking Jesus with all your heart, by building on that relationship with Him every day so that you know Him, and when the trial comes, you’ll know He’s where He’s always been – right by your side?

I pray your hope lies in the only One who is completely trustworthy, that your faith, your belief is in His Son Jesus as Lord and Savior, for “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12

If not, or if you’re not sure, just ask Him. Ask God to forgive you of your sins, and tell Him you’re putting your faith in His Son Jesus and His blood that was shed on the cross to pay for your sins.

Read, listen, and learn all you can. Love God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength, and love others as yourself. And when life hits you hard, as it does for everyone, you’ll be ready, and He’ll be there. 

 

 

 

One Author, Many Stories

Posted on by Dorci

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…”

So begins one of the most well-known and best-selling novels of all time. But it doesn’t stand alone. There are countless other stories just as beautifully written and well-regarded. It would be futile to compare them because they’re each beautiful in their own unique way. 


“…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…”  
Hebrews 12:1b-2a


It is oh so easy to compare our lives, our stories, to others. In fact, satan encourages it. And with the explosion of social media, it’s easier than ever to become engrained into our psyche, even subconsciously, to compare everything about ourselves and our lives to others. 

What he doesn’t want us to remember is that we have a perfect Author who writes each unique story of faith.

Our Author knows what what’s needed to advance our own particular epic, strengthening our faith, while taking into account our unique hearts and the varying characters and events of our lives, so that our faith is mature and complete. 

Yes, our stories will be different, but every one is written just as thoughtfully and lovingly as the others, each just as beautiful and miraculous.

The one commonality we share in our stories, if we indeed know Him, is our Protagonist, our Hero, the Champion of our faith. 

So whether our stories begin with “Once there were four children whose names were Peter, Susan, Edmond, and Lucy” or “In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit,” as long as we continue walking with our Champion, the Author of our faith, we can trust Him with the twists and turns of own adventures, developing our faith until the end.

And then, a new beginning…

 

 

 

Saturday Song – Cry Out To Jesus

Posted on by Dorci

 

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Psalm 34:18

 

 

Cry Out To Jesus
by Third Day

To everyone who’s lost someone they love
Long before it was their time
You feel like the days you had were not enough
When you said goodbye

And to all of the people with burdens and pains
Keeping you back from your life
You believe that there’s nothing and there is no one
Who can make it right

There is hope for the helpless
Rest for the weary
And love for the broken heart
And there is grace and forgiveness
Mercy and healing
He’ll meet you wherever you are
Cry out to Jesus
Cry out to Jesus

For the marriage that’s struggling just to hang on
They’ve lost all of their faith in love
And they’ve done all they can to make it right again, still it’s not enough

For the ones who can’t break the addictions and chains
You try to give up but you come back again
Just remember that you’re not alone in your shame
And your suffering

There is hope for the helpless
Rest for the weary
And love for the broken heart
And there is grace and forgiveness
Mercy and healing
He’ll meet you wherever you are
Cry out to Jesus

When you’re lonely
And it feels like the whole world is falling on you
You just reach out, you just cry out to Jesus
Cry to Jesus

To the widow who suffers from being alone
Wiping the tears from her eyes
And for the children around the world without a home
Say a prayer tonight

There is hope for the helpless
Rest for the weary
And love for the broken heart
And there is grace and forgiveness
Mercy and healing
He’ll meet you wherever you are

There is hope for the helpless
Rest for the weary
And love for the broken heart
And there is grace and forgiveness
Mercy and healing
He’ll meet you wherever you are
Cry out to Jesus
Cry out to Jesus
Oh, cry out to Jesus
Cry out to Jesus

From Darkness to Light

Posted on by Dorci

There are times the enemy comes out from the shadows and we can scarcely take in its evil. It shows itself for what it is, and the darkness is so appalling, so depraved, so hideous, we can hardly believe the depths it will go. 

Yet this is only a glimpse of the evil that’s all around us. So much is hidden, but he’s there, vile and lurking in the corners, whispering in the ears of the suffering, lying to those in pain, until the anger within begins to boil, tempting its victims to poisonous “solutions,” until the bitterness cements their hearts and acts as a cancer on their souls.

The enemy then seeks out an agreeable, moldable partner, one who has given over to that bitterness, and waits for an opportune moment.

But God…

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”  Rom 5:8 MEV

“But God raised {Jesus} from the dead…” Acts 2:24a NIV

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, made us alive together with Christ…” Eph 2:4-5 MEV

God loves His creation more than we can ever know. His light and life are available to anyone who will believe in His Son who willingly gave His life as payment for the sins of that one. 

His Spirit will come and reside with that one, and will be a healing balm who can and will soften the heart and give peace to the soul of the one willing to receive Him. The dead will be made alive, hatred will turn to love, anger to forgiveness, sorrow to joy. 

As his end gets nearer and more and more people unknowingly believe the enemy’s lies and push God out of their minds and society, he gets more brazen, coming out from the shadows and is received.

The blinders on the eyes of the world may not see his surreptitious nature, but those of us whose eyes have been opened and hearts have been filled with the Truth know who he is, and our Lord Jesus has charged us with a mission: 

“…let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”  Matt 5:16

AND

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Matt 28:19-20

If there’s anything events in this world should teach us, it’s that the enemy is moving, and time is short. he will take as many victims as possible, but God…

God desires to shine His light through us to act and speak as His ambassadors who will first keep ourselves in God’s love, then extend that love, grace, and mercy to the lost, and through prayer and the power of Christ, lead them from darkness to light, turning victims into overcomers.

The enemy can be defeated, one soul at a time, and whether we plant, water, or harvest, who knows what souls, and futures, might be saved.

 

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
Acts 20:24

***

Heavenly Father, we ask you to make us willing vessels to shine brightly, and that your power and favor rest on us and the gifts you’ve given us to save the lost and bring glory to your name.  In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

Saturday Song – Remind Me Who I Am

Posted on by Dorci
“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!
And that is what we are!”
1 John 3:1a

 
Remind Me Who I Am
by Jason Gray
 
When I lose my way
And I forget my name
Remind me who I am
In the mirror, all I see
Is who I don’t wanna be
Remind me who I am
 
In the loneliest places
When I can’t remember what grace is
 
Tell me, once again
Who I am to You, who I am to You
Tell me, lest I forget
Who I am to You, that I belong to You
To You
 
When my heart is like a stone
And I’m running far from home
Remind me who I am
When I can’t receive Your love
Afraid I’ll never be enough
Remind me who I am
 
If I’m Your beloved
Can You help me believe it
 
Tell me, once again
Who I am to You, who I am to You
Tell me, lest I forget
Who I am to You, that I belong to You
To You
 
I’m the one You love
I’m the one You love
That will be enough
I’m the one You love
 
Tell me, once again
Who I am to You, who I am to You
Tell me, lest I forget
Who I am to You, that I belong to You, woah
 
Tell me, once again
Who I am to You, who I am to You
Tell me, lest I forget
Who I am to You, that I belong to You
To You
To You

Deep Calls to Deep

Posted on by Dorci

Like our bodies need the sun, food and water, our souls need to worship God.

God declared in Isaiah 43:7:

“…Everyone who is called by My name, and whom I have created for My glory, whom I have formed, even whom I have made.”

Paul echoes this in his letter to the brothers and sisters in Colossae “…all things have been created through Him (the Son, who is the image of the invisible God) and for Him.” (1:15, 16b)

But like so much of what God’s created, satan has taken our God-given need to worship Him and offers us a cheap counterfeit. 

Those who refuse to acknowledge God’s existence (and even some who do) will turn that need to worship toward something else. 

“They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised.” (Rom. 1:25)

Throughout time people have worshipped everything from vegetation to animals (the living and the golden kind), to the sun, moon, and stars. 

But what people mostly worship is one another and themselves. It’s our soul on junk food. There is nothing that will destroy it faster than worshipping people, or seeking to have others worship us, and there is no shortage of ways that people seek to be worshipped, revered, idolized, bowed down to, put on a pedestal, feared. 

I don’t know how many people I’ve heard who believed fame and fortune – self worship – to be the ultimate success, and after seeking all the world says is important, or even being thrust into it, fall into a pit of despair once they’ve reached that pinnacle and confessed they said to themselves, “Is this it?”

They’re left feeling empty, broken, and despondent. Many have believed there was nothing else to live for. 

The first thing Jesus did is resist the temptation of the devil in the wilderness to worship him.

The devil first tempted Him to stop seeking God by trying to end His time of fasting. Then he tried to lead Him to test God. Ultimately, he tried leading Jesus to worship him.  

“Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ‘All this I will give you,’ he said, ‘if you will bow down and worship me.’” (Matt. 4:8-9)

The devil is methodical and predictable. If he can lead people away from God, he can get them to turn their God-given need for worship onto anything and anyone else, and he’s won. 

But Christ shows us the way by telling him, “Away from me, satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only. (Deut. 6:13).'” (Matt. 4:10)

When we, too, find ourselves in the desert of life, or the black depths of the oceans, we can be tempted to take any way out, to cut short our suffering, to take satan’s deal, but it’s only a short-cut to despair and regret. 

“Deep calls to deep…”

King David wrote these words in Psalm 42 describing a time of great turmoil in his life. It is in these great sufferings of life we hear God calling to us in the deepest recesses of our souls, and we call back to Him from there. 

Just as God knows what inhabits the loneliest of deserts and the deepest of ocean floors, God knows what’s in our hearts. Never do we need to be afraid to invite Him into whatever is going on in our hearts and lives. 

The only fear we should have is in not calling on Him, on not worshipping Him, and turning instead to something or someone else. 

So what is our remedy to keep from being caught off guard? To being tempted to turn to any other form of worship?

Abide!

Abide in the Vine-in Christ, and in His love. Hang on as dearly to Him as a branch holds fast to its vine for nourishment and life. 

That is true worship. And from our worship of Him in spirit and in truth, He, our Creator, our King, our Lord, our Sustenance, our Light, our All, will nourish our souls with Himself and give us all we need for the abundant life. 

In Him,
Dorci

Love Letter(s)

Posted on by Dorci

If you’ve been putting off reading God’s Word, knowing you need to, reminding yourself you’ve got to do it, but continually find the day is gone, you’re tired, and you haven’t read it, again, I get it. Our lives are busy and complicated and it’s hard to squeeze one more thing into the day. And that’s exactly why it’s so important.

If there were ever a time to start reading the Word God’s given to us, to start studying it, devouring it, memorizing it, loving it, it’s now. 

It’s been said the written Word of God is His love letter to us. God reveals Himself to us on its pages, beginning to end, from one miraculous, mind-bending story to another, showing us His vast love through His grace and mercy, and the plan for His most precious creation.

The Holy Bible is not just another book (or 66 of them to be precise). The writer of 2 Timothy, Paul the apostle, tells us in 3:16, “All Scripture is God-breathed…”

Throughout the ages God Himself spoke through flawed but chosen people to proclaim a Holy God.

Paul goes on to say scripture is “useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

This is the crux of His desire for those who would believe in His Son and follow Him. Sin comes so easily to us, and seems to be even easier as the world around us devolves into a state of maddening chaos.  

But God’s Word is the place we can go for refuge, for truth, for all those much-needed disciplines Paul lists so we can be in the process of maturing and fulfilling God’s plan for us: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10

The writer of Hebrews (probably Paul) also tells us in 4:12, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” 

Through God’s Word-its incredible stories and the people who lived them-the Holy Spirit reveals to us our own hearts and the ways He desires to heal us, give us purpose and the abundant life we were meant to live. 

Since the moment we were saved and filled with the Holy Spirit, we became soldiers in a spiritual battle and God’s Word is the beginning of our training so we can overcome the enemy of God who is always on the move.  We need discernment and wisdom so we know a lie when we hear it, always alert to his ways, and trained to be attuned to the Lord, not allowing ourselves to be distracted by the world’s noise. 

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, none of us knows what a day will bring. No matter what happens, we want to be found with our spiritual armor securely fastened, strong and courageous, walking with the Lord. 

By starting the day with scripture, even if it’s just one verse, and a prayer, we take His hand and turn our hearts and minds to the things of the Lord, allowing Him to prepare us for what lies ahead, so we can walk in the Spirit and not in our flesh.  

I can’t tell you how many times the Holy Spirit has brought scripture to my mind as a warning, for healing, and for hope and encouragement. But He can’t remind me of something I’ve never bothered to read in the first place.

So I’m giving you a challenge. Start with just a verse. There are a lot of verse-of-the-days you can have sent right to your email to start you off. But don’t stay there. Add a second verse, and a third, and then a chapter… 

And when you truly begin to study it, to make it the priority of your day, you’ll find hidden treasures in the meaning of its words and context that will show you even more the depth and beauty of our God and His love for us. 

And pray! Pray for understanding, for wisdom, asking the Lord to speak to your heart in a personal way as you read through its pages.

It may be hard at first, but keep at it. Before you know it, you’ll find you love it and its Author more and more. 

As you walk in what you learn, you’ll find yourself bearing His fruit of love, joy, and His peace. 

Let me know how it goes!

For Him,
Dorci

Heavenly Father, remind us as we begin each day to begin it with You. Help us be consistent, and fill us with a love for the precious word you’ve so thoughtfully composed because of your love for us. In Christ’s name we pray, amen.

 

 

 

The Saturday Song – Reason

Posted on by Dorci

Alrighty. I’m just coming back from being flat on my face with a shoulder surgery first, and while still recovering from that, helping my husband through covid, and before he was well, being pulled under by it myself. Let’s just say it’s been a long eight weeks. 

Going into surgery I knew I’d have lots of extra time and wanted to spend much of it in prayer asking the Lord what to do next. I expected to hear from Him, to be encouraged by Him, to get excited about what His plan was. 

Instead, the Lord showed me I’d been stifled with a discouragement I didn’t even know was there. Step 1. 

There are many reasons for it, but the reasons don’t really matter. The fact is that most of us will probably be there at some point, for one reason or another. Might be for a short season, or a long one. And obviously the last couple of years may well have ushered that in for many of us. 

We’re tired, we’re grieving, we’re lost. Maybe we don’t have the same love for God we once did; maybe we don’t serve Him with the same passion we once had. If that’s you, remember step 1. 

Once we know it, we can pray and ask the Lord to deliver us from discouragement, hopelessness, fear, a sin that’s taken hold perhaps, or maybe from just being in a rut, and fill us again. 

I pray the Lord will fill us and renew us with His love, the love that gave all to redeem us, the love that refuses to allow anything to separate us from it, that love that’s promised to be with us through anything, no matter what, the love that has gone ahead and prepared a forever home just for us.

So as you watch this (and please don’t try this at home!), may the Holy Spirit put that love and hunger back in our hearts to worship and serve Him to the fullest. I pray we’ll pull our helmets out of that trash, spiritually speaking, and wholeheartedly give our lives again to Him, because His love compels us.

May the Lord bless you. 

Reason
by Unspoken

This year’s felt like four seasons of winter
And you’d give anything to feel the sun
Always reaching, always climbing
Always second guessing the timing
But God has a plan, a purpose in this
You are His child and don’t you forget

He put that hunger in your heart
He put that fire in your soul
His love is the reason
To keep on believing

When you feel like giving up
When you feel like giving in
His love is the reason
To keep on believing

If we could pull back the curtain of Heaven
We would see His hand on everything
Every hour, every minute, every second, He’s always been in it
Don’t let a shadow of a doubt take hold (take hold)
Hold on to what you already know

He put that hunger in your heart (hunger in your heart)
He put that fire in your soul (fire in your soul)
His love is the reason

To keep on believing
When you feel like giving up (feel like giving up)
When you feel like giving in (giving in)
His love is the reason
To keep on believing (yeah)
(His love is) it’s the reason
(His love is) it’s the reason
His love is the reason (ooh)

He’s the peace in the madness
That you can’t explain
He’s the hope in the heartbreak
The rest in the suffering
He’s closer than the air you breathe
From the start to the end to the in between
Don’t you dare doubt even for a minute
What He started in you
Yeah, He’s gonna finish

He put that hunger in your heart (hunger in your heart)
He put that fire in your soul (fire in your soul)
His love is the reason (Your love, Your love)
To keep on believing (just keep on believing)
When you feel like giving up (feel like giving up)
When you feel like giving in (oh) (giving in)
His love is the reason (Your love, Your love)
To keep on believing (yeah)

(His love is)
It’s the reason (His love is)
(His love is)
It’s the reason (His love is)
His love is the reason (His love is)
It’s the reason (His love is)
It’s the reason

His love is the reason, hey, hey

The Saturday Song – Lord of My Life

Posted on by Dorci
Hello Friends,
No matter where you are today, whether walking with the Lord, struggling to walk with Him, or having turned your back on Him for whatever reason, for however long, I want you to know our Lord Jesus is there and He always will be. Wherever you’ve been, He knows and loves you, and wherever you’re headed, He’s been there and back and made a way for you. Call out to Him with assurance that He will forgive where you need to be forgiven, hold out His hand, and invite you to come alongside and walk with Him. 
 
I hope the sentiment of this song will be ours throughout the coming year, and with it the peace and hope of Christ.  
 
Heavenly Father, may you be the song in our hearts and the light for our paths through every storm, every rainbow, every desert, every heartache, and every joy. May you forever truly be the Lord of our lives.
 
 
Lord of My Life
by Matt Maher
 
A sky without a North Star
A ship without an anchor
Caught up in the current
My heart is prone to wander

All these roads I’ve taken
Lead me back to nowhere
And you’re the destination
And you’re the way to get there

You can have it all

Be the song I sing, be my guided light
Savior of my soul, be the Lord of my life
Every step I take, always by my side
I am Yours, and You are mine
Be the Lord of my life

Oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh
Mercy’s never failing
Forgiveness overflowing
A beauty you’re unveiling
A love that just keeps growing

This is all I want
I surrender all

Be the song I sing, be my guided light
Savior of my soul, be the Lord of my life
Every step I take, always by my side
I am Yours, and You are mine
Be the Lord of my life

Oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh

I wanna go where go You go, wanna move where You move
Wanna love who You love, watch it break on through
I wanna go where go You go, wanna move where You move
Wanna love who You love, watch it break on through
I wanna go where go You go, wanna move where You move
Wanna love who You love, watch it break on through
I wanna go where go You go, wanna move where You move
Watch it break on through, break on through

Woah-oh-oh, oh-oh
Woah-woah, woah-woah
Woah-oh-oh, oh-oh
Woah-woah, woah-woah
Savior of my soul, be the Lord of my life
Every step I take, always by my side
I am Yours, and You are mine
Be the Lord of my life
Oh, I am Yours, and You are mine
Be the Lord of my life

I am Yours, and You are mine
Be the Lord of my life

To Gaze Upon the King

Posted on by Dorci

I’d like to repost one more piece for you, this one from December 2015. I pray you and your loved ones have a very Merry Christmas as we celebrate the birth of the beloved Child, the Savior, the King.  

***

Oh dear ones, loved so greatly by God, can I ask you to, for just a moment, lay down your tape and scissors?  To take your eyes away from the Christmas movies and your ears from the holiday music?

Can I ask you to come take a journey with me?  We are going to see a King.

There is a little, ancient town full of people who have come to be counted in the census.  All the rooms are full, too.

There is a very young woman who is about ready to give birth.  She and her husband have come a long way and she looks tired and uncomfortable. Her labor pains have begun.

“The barn is available,” they’re told.

Humbly, they make their way to the stable.  He tries to make her comfortable with a bed of hay as the animals make room for a royal guest.

She gives birth and the pain is soon forgotten as joy overwhelms her.  He is perfect in every way.  They gaze upon their miracle child, the one given to them by God Himself.  There is a feeding trough, and he makes a bed for this tiny baby.  The stars are shining on this most special of nights.

Meanwhile, out in the nearby fields, men who only a moment ago were tending sheep now stand in shock and fear as a glorious and heavenly light shines around them and an angel of the Lord appears to them and says,

“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

The shepherds are barely able to take it in when a whole host of angels appears, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

They grab their staffs and run to the place where this Savior, this long-awaited Messiah has been born.  He is beautiful and they can hardly believe it.  They have seen the great Shepherd.

Room has been made for this little family of three.  They wonder what the future holds in and through this new and precious life.

Sometime later, other worshippers make their way from the east.  A star has led some wise men on a journey.  It’s been long and dusty, but they’ve been moved by something, Someone, beyond them to make it.  They’ve brought gifts suitable to present to royalty: gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Gold for a King, but not just any king.  A King who has chosen to strip Himself of His heavenly robes and crown and become like us.

Frankincense, symbolizing His priesthood, one that would never end.

Myrrh for embalming, for one day in the not-too-distant future, this King will die for the sins of the world.

The star that led them from so far away has stopped directly over the house where the King lay.  They step inside and bow before Him and worship Him.  They present their gifts, and Mary and Joseph continue to marvel at God’s love, His miracles and His glory.

The world looks different to them now.  Suddenly it is filled with hope and love and promise.  Under the light of the stars was the Light of the world. Salvation was here.

This, they knew, was no ordinary child.

This was a King.