iandthoureflections

Unwrapping the Gifts to Eternal Life: Frankincense, The Gift of Worship

Prepare Ye The Way

As we continue to unwrap the gifts the wise men brought to Baby Jesus, we travel into the deep woods of significant treasure. In our last post, we explored the first gift of gold, a gift fit for a king!

The Gift of Frankincense

Today, we turn our noses to frankincense—a fragrant resin from trees that typically grow in dry mountain regions of India, Africa, and the Middle East.

Join us as we unwrap how it reveals the eternal gift of life.

Let’s see how frankincense, given with reverence and love, connects us to the enduring message of Christmas.

Why Frankincense?

Frankincense is known for its sacred tradition and profound meaning.

It’s woody.
It can be inhaled.
It can be absorbed by the skin.
It can be taken as a supplement.

This precious gift perfectly symbolizes Jesus’ spiritual nature.

Throughout history, frankincense has been central to religious ceremonies. Think about incense in the church. It carries a sacred aroma that lingers in the air, transcending our spirits to another world.

It is quite an experience. Don’t you think?

Frankincense: The Gift for a King

This gift calls us to reflect on Jesus’ divine nature and His role as a great High Priest. It reminds us of the bridge between heaven and earth. And how our prayers, like incense, rise to God.

Every day we are reminded of God’s omnipresence. Let’s take a deep breath and say “Yah” as we inhale and “Weh” as we exhale. Feel it? THAT is the presence of God.

The sacred syllables of “Yahweh” remind us that every breath is a gift from God, connecting us to His presence.

As we prepare for Christmas, let the gift of frankincense invite us into worship. Just like the hymn, We Three Kings...

Frankincense to offer have I.
Incense owns a Deity nigh.
Prayer and praising all humans raising,
Worship Him,
God on high.

May we follow the wise men to Jesus. There, at the manger, we can worship the King of Kings.

In the next post, we unwrap the third and final treasure of the wise men and see how it adds to the layers of the divine birth of Baby Jesus.

#TheThreeWiseMen #Gifts #Gold #Frankincense #Jesus #Isaiah #Prophecy #Hope&Redemption #12DaysofIsaiah #Christmas #ComfortOneAnother #IandThouReflections

Unwrapping the Gifts to Eternal Life: Gold, A Gift Fit for a King

Unwrapping the Gifts to Eternal Life: Gold, A Gift Fit for a King

Prepare Ye The Way

As we prepare our hearts for Christmas, we will talk about the gifts the wise men brought to Baby Jesus.

In our last post, we provided a brief overview of the biblical text to provide a framework.

The Gift of Gold

Today, we start with gold—a gift symbolizing royalty and acknowledging Jesus as the King of all creation.

Join us as we unwrap how it reveals the eternal reign of Christ.

Let’s see how gold, given with reverence and love, connects us to the enduring message of Christmas.

Why Gold?

Gold is known for its endurance.

*Image created by AI using biblical text*

It’s stability.
It’s power to stand the test of time.
It is the perfect precious metal to symbolize the kingship of Jesus.

Looking back on history, we see how gold is represented in royalty and divinity. Take the ephod, a priestly garment, for example. You can google it for more detailed information. It is fascinating to see gold’s role in royalty and the sacred.

Gold: The Gift for a King

Gold has always been a symbol of royalty and wealth. By presenting gold, the Magi acknowledged Jesus’ kingship. He was not just the King of the Jews but the King of all creation. This gift aligns with the prophecy in Isaiah 9:6-7:

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.”
Isaiah 9:6-7

As we reflect on this gift, we are reminded how Jesus brings us love, peace, and hope. If we open our hearts to God, we can embrace the Baby Jesus and honor Him as King of Kings.

King of Kings

For those who truly wish to prepare their hearts for Christmas, take a moment from your busy day today and listen to the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah. As you prepare ye the way to the Lord this Christmas season, I hope the triumphant melody will remind you of the gold the wise men brought to Baby Jesus. The same baby who grows up to become the King of Kings who reigns forever and ever.

In our next post, we will unwrap the second gift of the wise men and see how it adds to the layers of the divine birth of Jesus.

#TheThreeWiseMen #Gifts #Jesus #Isaiah #Prophecy #Hope&Redemption #12DaysofIsaiah #Christmas #Comfort #ComfortOneAnother #IandThouReflections

Unwrapping the Gifts to Eternal Life: The Wise Men

Prepare Ye The Way

Let’s continue to prepare our hearts for Christmas. Shall we?

Our journey will take us to Christmas, where we will find hope and redemption to renew our faith, whatever that faith may be.

In the previous post, we explored how Christmas found its place on December 25 and how it was rooted in the ancient festival of Saturnalia.

The next three blog posts will focus on the significance of the wise men’s gifts to Baby Jesus. Today, we start with what Matthew had to say.

Ever wonder where the Magi brought their gifts?

*The Three Magi Magi Mags royalty-free vector graphic by pixabay dot com*

Let’s see what the Bible has to say in Matthew 2.

After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
Matthew 2:9-12

Does it Really Matter?

So, we understand the story. King Herod sent the wise men to find the Baby. But the text doesn’t reveal how the wise men came to possess the gifts.

Did King Herod give them to the wise men?

Or did the wise men buy them along the way?

Or, perhaps they had these gifts along, waiting for the right time to give them away.

No, it doesn’t matter at all. The Wise Men presented Jesus’ holiness and signified that Jesus came to Earth to save our souls. And that is what matters most.

Divine Mystery

There is no doubt these gifts had divine mystery. There were profoundly more than mere symbols of wealth. These gifts speak to Jesus’ life and the hope He offers. Their meaning unlocks the keys to everlasting life.

In the next post, we’ll unwrap these treasures and uncover their significance. We will start with gold – A gift fit for a King!

#TheThreeWiseMen #Gifts #Jesus #Isaiah #Prophecy #Hope&Redemption #12DaysofIsaiah #Christmas #Comfort #ComfortOneAnother #IandThouReflections

The Miraculous Prophecy Behind Jesus’ Birth Unveiled

Prepare Ye The Way

Let’s prepare our hearts for Christmas over the next two weeks. Shall we?

Our journey will take us to Christmas, where we will find hope and redemption to renew our faith, whatever that faith may be.

We will be looking at Isaiah 40. But first, we start with Isaiah 7.

Ever wonder where the prophetic birth of Jesus comes from?

Immanuel

Prediction from the Old Testament
to Recorded Event in the New Testament

Isaiah 7:14 NIV

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

Matthew 1:23 NIV

²⁰But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”²²All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ²³ “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

Isaiah 7:14 CJB

Therefore Adonai himself
will give you people a sign:
the young woman* will become pregnant,
bear a son and name him ‘Immanu El [God is with us].

Matthew 1:23 CJB

²⁰But while he was thinking about this, an angel of Adonai appeared to him in a dream and said, “Yosef, son of David, do not be afraid to take Miryam home with you as your wife; for what has been conceived in her is from the Ruach HaKodesh. ²¹She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Yeshua, [which means ‘Adonai saves,’] because he will save his people from their sins.” ²²All this happened in order to fulfill what Adonai had said through the prophet, ²³“The virgin will conceive and bear a son,
and they will call him ‘Immanuel.” The name means, “God is with us.”)

Isaiah foretells the birth of Jesus.

It seems clear as a bell to me. Or is it?

We know two things:
A woman will give birth.
The baby will be named Immanuel.

In the NIV, the woman is a virgin and will conceive, and in the CJB, the woman is young and will become pregnant.

Now, this is where it gets fuzzy. As we know it, the Bible is not in chronological order, so it muddles our perception a bit.

To keep it simple, remember:
Isaiah was written after Hosea and Amos. Thereby making it the third oldest sacred text.
The Gospel of Mark was written before the Gospel of Matthew. Even though Matthew is listed as the first book in the New Testament.

In Matthew, the author records the birth as a fulfillment of the prophecy from Isaiah. We see an 8th-century writing predicting an event recorded in 80 AD.

Fascinating, isn’t it?

Bible in Chronological Order (Every Book Ordered by Date Written)

#Jesus #Isaiah #Prophecy #Hope&Redemption #12DaysofIsaiah #Christmas #Comfort #ComfortOneAnother #IandThouReflections

The Miraculous Transformation from Saturnalia to Christmas

Prepare Ye The Way

Let’s continue to prepare our hearts for Christmas. Shall we?

Our journey will take us to Christmas, where we will find hope and redemption to renew our faith, whatever that faith may be.

In the previous post, we knawed on the prophetic words that predicted Jesus’ birth.

Today, we will reveal…

How Christmas Really Began

The Roots of Christmas

Remember that Christianity didn’t really spread until the 300-400s when Constantine declared Christianity as Rome’s religion. Before that time, there were other religions involving many gods and goddesses.

The Roman Catholic Church is believed to have chosen December 25 to celebrate Christ’s birth due to its ties with the winter solstice and the festival of Saturnalia, a time of feasting and gift-giving. Adapting these existing celebrations facilitated the transition to Christianity.

*https://www.sott.net/article/309632-Io-Saturnalia-The-Roman-roots-of-Christmas*

Ever wonder why December 25th is Christmas?

The winter solstice symbolized the sun’s “rebirth,” which aligns directly with the theme of Jesus, the “Light of the World.” Doesn’t it?

This strategy helped convert pagans by integrating already established traditions into Christian practices. Pretty straightforward.

Does It Really Matter?

Ultimately, the significance of Jesus’ birth is to celebrate the Son of God taking on human form. This miraculous event is one of the cornerstones of Christianity. And giving gifts honors the age-old story of the wise men bringing gifts to baby Jesus. So, does it really matter that it is December 25?

No, it doesn’t matter at all. What matters is that a Savior was born, and He is Christ the King.

As we prepare our hearts for Christmas, remember we are on a transformative journey from darkness into light, from prophecy to fulfillment.

In our next post, we will dig deeper into the gifts the wise men presented to baby Jesus.

#Jesus #Isaiah #Prophecy #Hope&Redemption #12DaysofIsaiah #Christmas #Comfort #ComfortOneAnother #IandThouReflections

The Spirit of Blue Topaz

The Spirit of Blue Topaz

O Spirit of the Topaz,
Spread your wings, our fortress, our shield,
Protect us from the evil one.

Tame the torment of the beast,
As winter nights grow long and cold.
Free us from the chaos of endless hurry,
Calm our minds in this sacred space.

Grant us tranquility and peace,
As we behold truths untold.
Banish every doubt and fear,
To leave the past behind.

O mighty sea of London blue,
Cast your mystical powers upon us.
Whisk us away to the heavens above,
Where the universe speaks volumes.

Guide us with your light so pure;
Empower us with gentle grace.
To walk in love, to live in light.
Until we meet face-to-face,
At the ninth foundation of the city wall.

Image Source: mail order gems dot com

#DecemberBirthstone #December #Birthstone #Spirituality #Poetry #Relationships

Gratitude in the Readiness to Respond – Part 5

In Part 4, we saw gratitude in action at Snowbird Mountain Coffee in Newport, TN. The owners reminded us that small acts of kindness, like “Pay what you can,” provide us with hope. When we face a disaster, a hot cup of coffee can be a source of comfort and connection.

But what happens when a crisis strikes on an overwhelming scale?

Like Hurricane Helene, which was devastated by hundreds of square miles when two reservoirs failed.

The Cajun Navy responds.

And they respond promptly! No wonder. This group, now called Pinnacle Search and Rescue, is an expert disaster response team. Its name officially changed in 2019. Yet, they still seem to be referred to as The Cajun Navy.

According to their website,

“When disaster strikes, we are there to respond to help those in need.”

The Cajun Navy was born after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. It happened serendipitousiously. Local officials called for immediate help. Anyone with a boat was urged to assist in rescuing thousands of stranded people. Since then, this volunteer group has mobilized time and again. Showing up wherever they’re needed.

This search and response team sprang into action when flooding and mudslides ravaged North Carolina. They worked alongside first responders. They cleared debris, salvaged homes, and provided supplies for recovery.

Their work is a powerful example of being the “hands and feet of Jesus,” offering hope to those in dire need.

Faith Through Works

This group of unique rescue workers shows compassion and love for strangers, one person at a time. Through their efforts, they embody the essence of gratitude. As James described it: a faith that is alive through works. This response team has a heart of gratitude: selfless, resilient, and ready to serve.

How can we help in times of need?

Snowbird Mountain Coffee and the Cajun Navy remind us how impactful serving can be. How can we embody gratitude in simple, everyday ways?

Perhaps lending a hand to a neighbor or offering support to someone in need. Volunteering is another excellent way to put gratitude into action.

No matter how small actions are, each one creates a ripple effect. Ripples of hope, resilience, and connection reinforce a community. It is a living testament built on love and generosity.

#Gratitude #LifeQuestions #BowlofStrawberries #Thanksgiving #Action #SnowbirdMountainCoffee #CajunNavy #PinnacleSearchandRescue #HandsandFeetofJesus #Hope

Brewing Up Gratitude – Part 4

Showing kindness and compassion need not be complicated. Nor does it need to be outwardly displayed. It can be as simple as paying for the person’s coffee behind you in line.

Pay What You Can

Snowbird Mountain Coffee Company has always been more than a café; it’s a community hub where friendships are formed, and where a cup of coffee represents comfort and connection, especially in times of need.

In Newport, TN, the owners of this haven for coffee waded through water and debris to ‘unflood’ their store. Not just to reopen for business, but to restore a sense of normalcy and community support after the storm. And because they wanted to give back to the people they serve each day, they created the “Pay What You Can” to give back to their community.

What an awesome way to show compassion.

This hands-on approach to gratitude invites us all to experience the warmth and hospitality of those around us who show gratitude with action.

What unique ways can you offer kindness?

While some acts of gratitude are small and spontaneous, others are part of organized efforts, where groups prepare for the worst to bring hope in the darkest times.

Encourage and Uplift Others

Gratitude and kindness come in many forms—sometimes as a warm cup of coffee, other times as an organized response to disaster. What unites them is the desire to uplift others and provide a glimmer of hope when it’s most needed.

How might our simple acts of kindness, or even our preparedness to help, create ripples of gratitude in our own communities?

In Part 5 we will look at how the Cajun Navy prepares as it responds to disasters.

*Image Credit: Cadence Captures dot com found on Snowbird Moutain Coffee Facebook page*

#Gratitude #LifeQuestions #BowlofStrawberries #Thanksgiving #Action #SnowbirdMountainCoffee #PayWhatYouCan

Gratitude in the Disaster – Part 3

Gratitude is Action

Gratitude is more than a feeling or an emotion. It is an action. It is a way that we can speak our faith through our deeds. Through a faith-based lens, gratitude isn’t passive; it’s an active expression of love and kindness. James emphasizes this with the reminder that ‘faith without works is dead’ (James 2:26).

The faith-based approach seeks to put our faith into service. And we do it through kindness and compassion.

How do you show gratitude?

Gratitude Amid the Hurricanes of Life

There is no doubt that Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton left indelible marks on families. From the beaches in Florida to the mountains in North Carolina, the hurricanes left a trail of devastation of unprecedented proportions.

It was unexpected.
It was quick.
It was devastating.
Many experienced the loss of family members and friends. People lost their homes. Businesses. Livelihoods.

Gratitude For Humankind

Yet, amid such devastation and tragedy, so much kindness and compassion poured out from so many. Neighbors, relief organizations, and the anonymous donated time and resources to a myriad of groups to show gratitude.

Often, in moments of crisis, love and compassion shine bright. The worst of times seems to draw people together in unity. It helps us to realize how essential our basic needs are as opposed to all of the materialism that is around us.

Gratitude for humankind.

This type of gratitude causes me to pause and reflect. It reminds me of the thought that has been on my mind for a few days now…“Be the Hands and Feet of Jesus.” It is as if a voice whispers this to me as I wake up.

Christianity.com does a beautiful job of answering the question:
What does it mean to be the hands and feet of Jesus?
Being the hands and feet of Jesus means that Christ’s followers, past, present, and future, are obedient in their commission to preach the gospel and co-labor with Christ to love, serve, and heal the broken, hurting, and hopeless of this world.
Joel Ryan, Contributing Writer -www.Christianity.com

As we walk through the hurricanes of life, let’s remember to show kindness and compassion.
Why?
Because actions speak louder than words.

How can we bring kindness to our own situations as well as to those walking through their own storms?

In Part 4, we will look at how the Snowbird Coffee Cafe became the hands and feet of Jesus.

#Gratitude #LifeQuestions #BowlofStrawberries #Thanksgiving #Action #Hurricanes #HandsandFeetofJesus

The Attitude of Gratitude – Part 2

In the last post, we compared the ups and downs of life to a bowl of strawberries. Just as each strawberry represents different aspects of life, our attitude towards them can take on various forms. In other words, gratitude can be an emotion, a feeling, or an action.

Today, we will define gratitude from two different sources.

Gratitude is a positive emotion that involves being thankful and appreciative and is associated with several mental and physical health benefits. When you experience gratitude, you feel grateful for something or someone in your life and respond with feelings of kindness, warmth, and other forms of generosity.
What is Gratitude & How Can You Practice It? http://www.verywellmind.com

The first source suggests gratitude is a positive emotion. But is gratitude only an emotion?

What do you think?

GRATITUDE (εὐχαριστία, G2374, [1] thankfulness, gratitude; [2] the rendering of thanks, thanksgiving; [3] Lord’s Supper, Eucharist, 1 Cor 10:16). The condition or quality of being grateful; an emotion or sentiment of thankfulness. A warm sense of appreciation for a kindness received; accompanied by a feeling of good will toward the benefactor, and a desire to repay the favor.
Encyclopedia of The Bible – http://www.biblegateway.com

Gratitude – Is it an Emotion? Feeling? Or an Action?

In both definitions above, gratitude is related to a feeling or emotion.

How would you define it?

In the next post, we will explore gratitude through The Book of James. James would argue that gratitude is an action. What are your thoughts?

What if gratitude is something more? Something active, something that can change us and others?”

#Gratitude #LifeQuestions #BowlofStrawberries #Thanksgiving #Action