No, it wasn’t like the Christmas like the folks have nowadays—
     They are livin’ more in comfort, and they’ve sorter changed their ways—
     But I sorter wish, old pardner, we could brush the years away,
     And be jest as young and happy, as we was that Christmas Day.”
              –Bruce Kiskaddon

    “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace.  For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people.”  
              –Luke 2:29-31 (NIV)
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Brrr, I can remember some cold days around Christmas.  Of course, the days when I was a kid didn’t seem so cold.  I could get out and play, sled, have snowball fights, but as I got older the work came along.  There were many a day out working in the cold where the temperature was below zero.  Boy, oh howdy, my toes are curling just thinking about it now.
    Most of the time in Colorado the wind came from the west, but I can remember those times when Old Man Winter sent his wind down from the north.  Texans talk about a Blue Norther, but when the cold sets in up in the high altitudes of the Rockies or a blizzard begins to howl, well, be ready for a cold spell.  Sure hope you have plenty of wood to feed the fire.
    A few years back I stumbled across a song, the lyrics by Michael Martin Murphy.  It set me to thinking about those who have to work out in the cold.  Those who have to work alone doing their daily chores.  

         CHRISTMAS ON THE LINE

         That old north wind, howling high up in the timber
         The only choir that I remember,
         I was riding on the line.
         One lone star, hanging over the horizon
         Like the one that led the wise men
         As they followed heaven’s sign.
         Snow-capped peaks
         Like the angels in their glory
         Seem to sing the ancient story
         As the wind blows through the pines.
         Drifting along to the sound of spurs jingling
         Like silver bells ringing
         Christmas on the line.

    I don’t know who wrote this, but someone referred to a line camp as a “cowboy monastery.”  He was alone in God’s great cathedral, listening to the sounds of nature sing the Christmas story, and who knows, if the angels didn’t join in with the sound of the wind.  Of course, there may those who would disagree and say that a line camp could cause a person to go stir crazy, but there are those who see the hand of God even in the bleakest winter.
    Take a walk this Christmas season, or at least sit for a spell out on the back porch.  Bundle up, grab a cup of coffee (or since it’s Christmas, a cup of real cocoa) and feel the touch of the Lord in the crisp breeze.  He is there, He will always be there.

When we recall Christmas past, we usually find that the simplest things–not the great occasions–give off the greatest glow of happiness.”
              –Bob Hope

    “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.”
              –Job 19:25 (NIV)
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I was reading, I think it was Barna’s Report, where 33% of Millennials (that’s one-third folks) stated that “secret Santa” was too stressful.  The thought of it brought anxiety, stress, and tension to the work place.  Yet, now get this, 30% (almost the same number) of Millennials said that the boss/company/employer should take the place of “Santa” and provide the gifts.  Ponder that!  What happens to the wonder of giving?  Buying a present for someone else causes stress?  However, they still want their present–from the “boss.”  As if he should be required to give one.
    Monday I mentioned Mary and how she must have been a very mature young woman.  One who had tremendous faith and loved the Lord.  I want to look at Joseph.  If anyone were to have stress I think it would be him.  Think of it–he had the responsibility to raise the Son of God.  The job of training, educating, and discipling would fall to him.  
    We know little of Joseph except what is given in the Christmas story.  He was a just man.  He loved Mary.  He had to be a man of exceptional character if the heavenly Father was going to allow him the responsibility of raising His Son.  He was a carpenter (some today say a stone mason).  He went to Bethlehem for the taxation because he was of the lineage of David.  He was warned in a dream to flee, so he took Mary and the child to Egypt.  From there, the family eventually make it back to Nazareth.
    We have one more story concerning Joseph.  It was after the Feast of the Passover.  For some reason, Jesus stayed behind while Mary and Joseph and the others returned to Nazareth.  Think of the concern of Mary and Joseph.  Think of the consternation of Joseph–the charge left him by the Father was missing.  

         “After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it.  Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day.  Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends.  When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him.  After three days they found him in the temple courts sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.  Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.  When his parents saw him, the were astonished.  His mother said to him, ‘Son, why have you treated us like this?  Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.'”
                –Luke 2:43-48 (NIV)

Joseph had been given the awesome responsibility of taking care of Jesus–the Son of God.  He was missing.  Ponder for a minute what might have gone through the mind of Joseph.  (Oh, and a side-note, read verse 51, “…But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.)
    After this Joseph is never mentioned again.  Maybe this incident gave him a heart attack.  No?  I don’t think so either.  But I do believe that he died while Jesus was a very young man (manhood came at age 13).  Was Joseph possibly a Zealot?  For example, Quinctilius Varus crucified two thousand ringleaders, whose leader was Judas, in a revolt near Nazareth.  Nine years later, another Judas led a revolt in the same region.  Perhaps Joseph named two of his sons after the Maccabeus–Simon and Judas.  Scripture records that the brothers of Jesus, the sons of Joseph and Mary, were James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon.
    The region around Nazareth was a rough area, one that was prone to violence.  Did Joseph die in some type of violence?  Or was he a victim of a job accident or disease?  If he died while Jesus was a young man, that would be a legal and logical reason for Jesus not to enter His ministry until one of the other brothers was of age to take care of the family.
    Oh, such things to ponder.  One more little thought to leave you with.  “Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man…” (Matthew 1:19, NIV).  This means that he was a man who followed the Law, but also indicates that he was a man who was completely open to all that God wanted to do for him.

Something about an old-fashioned Christmas is hard to forget.”
              –Hugh Downs

    “Because of the tender mercy of our God, With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us, To shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace.”
              –Luke 1:78-79 (NASB)
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Two people in the Bible that intrigue me are Mary and Joseph.  We really know very little about them except that they were people of faith.  Mary became the mother of Jesus and Joseph was his step-father.  After Jesus is twelve Joseph is no longer mentioned.  Mary is in the shadows as well, but is mentioned a few times.
    I read last week where some brilliant, enlightened professor (I think from NitWit University) stated that Mary was raped by God, that He forced Himself on her.  God had the audacity to do that to a teenager.  First, the fool doesn’t have his story or time period correct.
    First of all, Mary gives her consent.  “And Mary said, ‘Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.’  And the angel departed from her.”  (Luke 1:38, NASB)  Second, there was no such a thing as a “teenager” in that time period.  You were a child or an adult.  The concept of adolescence (teenager) is relatively new.  The fool doesn’t know what he is talking about and like most liberals just wanted to start a ruckus.
    But Mary, let us take a look at her for a few moments.  Luke, plainly tells us something about her character, how the angel came to her, and how she became obedient to the Lord.  Matthew tells us who she was, “Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah.” (1:16, NASB)  
    There is a verse in Luke that tells me something about Mary.  She was a thinking person, she didn’t understand this mysterious birth, but she pondered everything about it.  “But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.” (2:19, NASB)
    Somewhere along the line, Jesus left home to begin His ministry and journey to the cross.  He continued to do “strange” things, miracles, healings, and His message was different.  Some sought Him for a miracle, others said He was a lunatic.  There was a time when Mary and His brothers came to get him.  “And His mother and brothers came to Him, and they were unable to get to Him because of the crowd.” (Luke 8:19, NASB)
    Mary is seen again at the crucifixion.  We have no record of Him every going “home” after He began His ministry.  Perhaps He understood that His home was heaven, and He was very focused on the mission in front of Him.  “But standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother…  When Jesus then saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son!'” (John 19:25-26, NASB)  At the cross she was surely torn in her heart, but I wonder, I wonder if her mind went back to all the happenings at His birth.  I wonder if she was still pondering these things in her heart.
    She is mentioned again at the tomb of Jesus.  The two angels spoke to the women when they were disturbed with the tomb being empty.  “And they remembered His words, and returned from the tomb and reported all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.  Now they were Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James…” (Luke 24:8-10, NASB)  Remember, that James was the half-brother of Jesus.
    Surely her heart began to throb.  The pondering continued.  Hope soared.  Faith rose.  We see her again in the upper room where she was waiting from the Promise of the Father and of Jesus.  “These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.” (Acts 1:14, NASB)
    What happened to Mary after her experience in the upper room?  There are many legends, some saying that she did miracles and thus became a saint.  Did she stay in Jerusalem with James?  This is very likely since he was the next oldest son.  Was she revered as the mother of the Messiah by those in the church?  There is some speculation that she went to Ephesus to live with John (John 19:27)  This is also very likely.  How long did she live after the upper room experience?  Whatever the length of time, she most definitely pondered everything in her heart.