He Came as He Said (Our Church Snow Day)

Come, they told me, pa rum pa pum pum

A newborn King to see, pa rum pa pum pum

Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pa pum pum

To lay before the King, pa rum pa pum pum,

Rum pa pum pum, rum pa pum pum

So to honor Him, pa rum pa pum pum

When we come

Mary nodded, pa rum pa pum pum

The ox and lamb kept time, pa rum pa pum pum

I played my drum for Him, pa rum pa pum pum

I played my best for Him, pa rum pa pum pum,

Rum pa pum pum, rum pa pum pum

Then He smiled at me, pa rum pa pum pum

Me and my drum

When we come

Me and my drum

Beth had this song, The Little Drummer Boy, on her mind today, and we sang it several times. This morning, due to icy roads, we stayed home and chose to have a family time of worship. The basis for our talking time were the first four verses of Luke, which are normally not a part of our Advent reading, but are incredibly important for us to remember. They read, “Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.” (Luke 1:1–4, ESV)

This introduction and dedication of the book of Luke to Theophilus is incredibly important, especially at this time of year when there are so many stories and traditions surrounding Christmas. We enjoy much of the pageantry and the fun, but we are also careful to distinguish between that which is true and that which is not. Luke made it very clear that he wanted to provide for his reader and those who would follow a careful and accurate accounting of just what happened within the limits of what he could reasonably record. John spoke to the vastness of what could have been written for us in the last verse of his gospel account. “Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.” (John 21:25, ESV)

In our talk this morning we talked about the things that we had been reading in our Advent progression. So far this month we have read some pretty incredible things. We read of angels appearing in person and in visions. We read of a couple who were way beyond the years that a baby could be conceived, becoming pregnant because God opened her womb. We read of a virgin who has not had sexual relations being made pregnant by the Holy Spirit. We will even read next of her betrothed not putting her away, because what was done to her was done to her by God and no man. (Sorry, had to take a break to draw my pictures of the account of Zacharias from Beth’s story Bible, but I’m back) We spoke about those who would say this is all fable and that Jesus was merely a man. We spoke about people who pick and choose what to believe, which really then makes none of the Bible trustworthy to them.

Luke wanted us to know the real truth and to hold onto it, especially in the face of so much other stuff being told by others, some truthful and surely some not. We talked about our great need to take all that we hear and compare it to the word of God. Much of the Christmas programming, though enjoyable and fanciful, is not accurate or true. As an example, we were reminded that in watching Santa Claus 3 last night, that there is really nothing true about the movie as it pertains to why we celebrate Christmas. We spoke of family members who have chosen to believe and follow the truth, and we even talked about some who have chosen to alter or believe a twisted truth. Reading the Advent every year is a valuable reminder to us of the real truth and a challenge to us to believe even as those who had those face to face encounters as well as an encouragement to us about our God who even helps us in our unbelief.

Beth got to choose our song for the morning and even a craft. The song was “The Little Drummer Boy.” As we sang it I brought over to her a baby Jesus from our toy Nativity set and our three stacked glass boxes of gold (fake I’m sure), frankincense, and myrrh (which my parents had brought us from Arabia) while Jonny ran for a drum. We enjoyed the song as we sang the two verses Beth knew from memory, which she obviously had learned well. Then when the song was over we talked about the gifts and even the frankincense which may have been the form of incense that Zachariah was burning in the temple when the angel appeared. We even talked about the fact that there was no little drummer boy at the stable, but if he were there this is what he might have sung.

Following some more discussion summarizing where we had been so far in our Advent reading, we prayed, and Beth began the craft which she had devised. She had looked in her study Bible to write down the page numbers with the story of Jesus’ birth. The she handed out to her mom and I page numbers from which we were to draw pictures of what was being talked about so that they could be put together in a story board. She is coloring them in while Robin is awaiting her turn to draw her pictures. The boys, well, they went outside to play in the snow. Yes, there is a difference.

It would have been so easy to get up late, eat breakfast and watch football. I am very thankful that we didn’t.

“Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” 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, goodwill toward men!”” (Luke 2:10–14, NKJV)

Today in “Jesus Calling” by Sarah Young (12/8)

Your needs and My riches are a perfect fit. I never meant for you to be self-sufficient. Instead, I designed you to need Me not only for daily bread but also for fulfillment of deep yearnings. I carefully crafted your longings and feelings of incompleteness, to point you to Me. Therefore, do not try to bury or deny these feelings. Beware also of trying to pacify these longings with lesser gods: people, possessions, power.

Come to Me in all your neediness, with defenses down and with desires to be blessed. As you spend time in My Presence, your deepest longings are fulfilled. Rejoice in your neediness, which enables you to find intimate completion in Me.

“And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19, NASB95)

“that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Colossians 2:2–3, NASB95)