Guide us to Thy Perfect Light

 The tradition of Twelfth Night, which marks the end of the Christmas season, occurs the night before Epiphany. On this night, Kings' Cakes are baked in preparation for the coming winter season. 


 In places throughout Europe and Latin America, Christians commemorate Three Kings' Day by offering prayers, burning herbs that have been dried and blessed, sprinkling entryways with holy water, and inscribing the initials of the Magi (Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar) on structures in order to receive a blessing. 




 The significance behind the visit of the Magi is the revelation of Christ as "Lord and King." The Wise Men were the first Gentiles to publicly recognize the divinity of Jesus, by way of their offerings of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 





The Star of Bethlehem has been depicted in art as part of the Nativity scene for centuries. It is usually seen as a very large and very bright star resting just above the location where Jesus had been born. And the Christian feast day, Epiphany, is celebrated as the day that this star had finally led the Magi from the East to the child Jesus. But the greatest significance of the Star of Bethlehem was not its brightness, but its part in the heavenly announcement of everything that Jesus was. 







http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3KdCDtbrRo&feature=related


Happy Epiphany everyone! Watch this lovely video, it's so sweet!

“Guide Us To Thy Perfect Light”

“When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy” (Matthew 2:10).

Contrary to traditional Christmas pageantry and artist’s portrayals of the nativity setting, a careful consideration of the Scriptures reveals that the shepherds and wise men were not both present at the same time at the birth of Christ.


Today’s Scripture text actually reveals that the wise men who followed the star in the east took arrived quite some time after Christ’s birth. They had first seen the star while in the east and had traveled to Jerusalem to inquire regarding the exact place of Christ’s birth.  Who these wise men were remains a mystery. They may have been among those from the Jewish line who stayed in the East following the Exile or perhaps were proselytes (converts to the Jewish faith) who may have known of the Messianic promise.  After receiving the information that Christ was born in Bethlehem they went there to worship Him.
For some reason, after initially seeing the star while in the east, it was no longer seen for a period until after they had been to Jerusalem and were on their way to Bethlehem. (compare Matthew 2:2 and 2:9,10)


These men were earnest seekers.  The journey from the east to Jerusalem was likely long and hard.  But they were persistent.   It was the reappearance of the star on the way to Bethlehem that prompted the response described in the KJV when they “rejoiced with exceeding great joy.”  The apparent redundancy in the English is an attempt to convey the richness of emotion that Matthew uses four Greek words to express.  The Amplified Bible says, “thrilled with ecstatic joy.”
Why were they filled with such great joy?  After all, at this point they had not yet seen Jesus (read the text carefully).  It clearly was the reappearance of the star that prompted their joy and also their ability to continue the journey to find the Christ child.
But why?  I believe we have here an example of how God reveals Himself to the earnest seeker.  They had seen the star while in the East and then went to Jerusalem by faith. The reappearance of the star on their way to Bethlehem gave them an assurance that their seeking was not in vain!
At times the light of God’s guidance is remarkably clear like the star seen by the wise men while in the east.  At other times God’s leading is less clear, such as when the guiding star was no longer visible.  But like these wise men, as earnest seekers we walk by faith and obedience to God’s Word.  Then we see again the clear, unmistakable light of God’s guidance, as the wise men did when they saw the star a second time.  Truly this is a time of great rejoicing.


Where are you today in your walk of faith?  For some the answer will surely be “I haven’t seen the ‘star’ in a long time”.  Keep seeking, believing, and following my friend. “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).

Be encouraged today,

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily Prayer: 




Father, Your Word is a lamp unto


 my feet and a light unto my path.


  Help me to journey in faith 


 when the path is dimmed or


 obscured.


  When I can only see through a


 glass darkly, help me to trust


 You for what is yet to come. 


 May I have a believing, obedient


 spirit even when I don’t fully 


understand Your plan. For Your 


thoughts are not my thoughts nor 


are Your ways my ways.  They are 


higher and wiser and are of divine




 origin, so help me to be mindful


 that You always know what’s best




 and will lead me according to 




Your will and Your timing. 




 Amen.