"Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus"

"I remember no one who was born a king except Jesus..."

These words from Charles Spurgeon jumped out at me earlier this week as I read about "Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus" in Robert J. Morgan's  "Near to the Heart of God - Meditations on 366 Best-Loved Hymns."

"On December 23, 1855, London's new preaching sensation, twenty-one-year-old Charles Spurgeon, wove this carol by Charles Wesley into his Christmas sermon as skillfully as a weaver braids a golden thread into a tapestry; 'A very unique singular thing is this, that Jesus Christ was said to have been born 'king of the Jews.'

"'Very few have ever been 'born king.' Men are born princes, but they are seldom born kings. I do not think you can find an instance in history where any infant was born king. He was the Prince of Wales, perhaps, until he had to wait a number of years, till his father died, and then they manufactured him into a king, but putting a crown on his head; and a sacred chrism, and other silly things; but he was not born a king.

"'I remember no one who was born a king except Jesus; and there is emphatic meaning in that verse that we sing, 'Born thy people to deliver; Born a child, and yet a king.' The moment that He came on earth He was a king.'"

Come Thou long expected Jesus

Born to set Thy people free

From our fears and sins release us

Let us find our rest in Thee

Israel's strength and consolation

Hope of all the earth Thou art

Dear desire of every nation

Joy of every longing heart

Born Thy people to deliver

Born a child and yet a King

Born to reign in us forever

Now Thy gracious kingdom bring

By Thine own eternal spirit

Rule in all our hearts alone

By Thine all sufficient merit

Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

(For the previous two posts in this series, see here and here.)

"Away in a Manger"

"Away in a Manger" may be the first Christmas song a child learns. While it may be considered a "children's song," it is still a favorite for many during this special season.

This post is the second in a little series on the history of some favorite Christmas hymns. (See here for the first post.) The following is from Robert J. Morgan's  "Near to the Heart of God - Meditations on 366 Best-Loved Hymns."

"For years, everyone assumed Martin Luther had written this carol; in songbooks it was usually subtitled 'Luther's Cradle Hymn.' According to tradition, the Reformer had written this hymn, which consisted of only two stanzas at the time, for his little son, Hans.

"We now believe the first two stanzas of  'Away in a Manger' came from an anonymous German Lutheran in Pennsylvania, not from Luther himself. We also know who added the tender third verse that begins, 'Be near me, Lord Jesus.' It was John T. McFarland, who was born January 2, 1851, in Mount Vernon, Indiana, and passed away on the morning of December 22, 1913, at his home in Maplewood, New Jersey.

"McFarland was a Sunday school leader and children's worker whose life's mission was to nurture children in the instruction of the Lord. It was McFarland who introduced graded instruction to American Sunday schools. How fitting that he would complete the most famous children's Christmas carol of all time."

Away in a manger no crib for a bed 

The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head 

The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay 

The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay. 

The cattle are lowing the baby awakes 

But little Lord Jesus no crying he makes. 

I love you Lord Jesus; look down from the sky 

And stay by my side until morning is nigh. 

Be near me Lord Jesus I ask you to stay 

Close by me for ever, and love me, I pray. 

Bless all the dear children in your tender care, 

And fit us for heaven, to live with you there.

"O Come, O Come, Emmanuel"

One of my favorite parts of the Christmas season is the music. I really love Christmas music! In fact, if it so good, I wonder why do we listen to it only one season of the year?

Over the next several days, I want to share a few of the "histories" of some of our favorite carols. These are pulled from "Near to the Heart of God - Meditations on 366 Best-Loved Hymns," a daily devotional by Robert J. Morgan.

Today's hymn history is about "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel." 

"In medieval Europe, there were cathedral services each evening leading up to Christmas Eve. Each service would begin with an antiphon, a choral call to worship. There were seven 'Great O Antiphons,' beginning with the Latin word vini ('come'), followed by the Latin words for 'O Wisdom," 'O Lord,' 'O Branch of Jesse,' 'O Key of David,' 'O Dayspring,' 'O King of Nations,' and 'O Emmanuel.'

"These choral prayers were rooted in messianic titles used by the prophets in the Old Testament, pleas for God to come. During the 1800s, various English translationsof the 'Great O Antiphons' were made. This well-loved British version is the work of Thomas Alexander Lacey, who was born December 20, 1853."

O come, O come, Emmanuel,

And ransom captive Israel,

That mourns in lonely exile here

Until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice!

Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,

Who orderest all things mightily;

To us the path of knowledge show,

And teach us in her ways to go.

Rejoice! Rejoice!

Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free

Thine own from Satan’s tyranny;

From depths of hell Thy people save,

And give them victory over the grave.

Rejoice! Rejoice!

Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer

Our spirits by Thine advent here;

Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,

And death’s dark shadows put to flight.

Rejoice! Rejoice!

Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Key of David, come,

And open wide our heavenly home;

Make safe the way that leads on high,

And close the path to misery.

Rejoice! Rejoice!

Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, O come, great Lord of might,

Who to Thy tribes on Sinai’s height

In ancient times once gave the law

In cloud and majesty and awe.

Rejoice! Rejoice!

Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Root of Jesse’s tree,

An ensign of Thy people be;

Before Thee rulers silent fall;

All peoples on Thy mercy call.

Rejoice! Rejoice!

Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Desire of nations, bind

In one the hearts of all mankind;

Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,

And be Thyself our King of Peace.

Rejoice! Rejoice!

Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

"Emmanuel" means "God with us" and how very appropriate that we continue to invite our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to be "with us" - not only at Christmas, but at all times.

"Then Pealed the Bells More Loud and Deep..."

One of my favorite Christmas carols is "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" because I love the story that is told in the lyrics. It was written by the famous poet and widower Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in 1863 - in the midst of the American Civil War - a dark and tumultuous time for our country.

Here is a bit of the history behind the song, from Wikipedia:

"During the American Civil War, Longfellow's oldest son, Charles Appleton Longfellow, joined the Union cause as a soldier, without his father's blessing.  Longfellow was informed by a letter dated March 14, 1863, after Charles had left. 'I have tried hard to resist the temptation of going without your leave, but I cannot any long,' Charles wrote. 'I feel it to be my first duty to do what I can for my country and I would willingly lay down my life for it, if it would be of any good.' Charles soon got an appointment as a lieutenant, but in November, he was severely wounded in the Battle of New Hope Church in Virginia during the Mine Run Campaign. Coupled with the recent loss of his wife Frances, who died as a result of an accidental fire, Longfellow was inspired to write 'Christmas Bells'...on Christmas Day 1863."

The poem was first published in a juvenile magazine in February 1865 and later set to music in 1872.

In light of last week's tragic events, the truth of this song rings in my ears. It seems our world, and especially our country has slipped into a very dark time, especially spiritually, and we may feel tempted to ask ourselves, "God, are you still in control?"  We need only to turn to His Word and reflect on our own history, to know that yes, He is still in control.

"I heard the bells on Christmas Day

Their old familiar carols play

And wild and sweet the words repeat

Of peace on earth, good will to men.

I thought how the as the day had come

The belfries of all Christendom

Had rolled along the unbroken song

Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head

'There is no peace on earth,' I said,

'For hate is strong and mocks the song

Of peace on earth, good will to men.'

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep,

'God is not dead, not doth He sleep;

The wrong shall fail, the right prevail

With peace on earth, good will to men.'

Till ringing, singing, on its way

The world revolved from night to day.

A voice, a chime, a chant sublime.

Of peace on earth, good will to men.

Surrounded by "Family"

Because I live in a different country and culture, I have learned not to have great expectations when it comes to celebrating holidays or observing special days. Things are done differently here - not wrong, just different from what I have been used to for most of my life.

This was my third Christmas spent in Uganda - first in 2006, then 2010 and this year. Each one has varied from the other, with usually a fusion of American and Ugandan traditions.

As I listened to my selection of Christmas music in the days weeks leading up to Christmas, I absentmindedly found myself singing, "I'll be home for Christmas...," then would catch myself with the realization that this would not be true. I would not be "home" - or would I?

One of the great realizations I have had on the missionfield is how very big the family of God is. As lovers of Jesus, we have brothers and sisters on every continent and in nearly every country. I have delighted in meeting "cousins," "parents," and "siblings," who are related by blood - the blood of Christ.

So although I was not with my dear mom, dad, sister and other relatives in Oregon, I felt immeasurably blessed this year to be surrounded by the family of God and in turn to feel "at home." Many of these dear ones are co-workers in the ministry and dear friends. When you work, eat, live, pray and worship alongside people on a regular basis you become community, but more like family.

God is the founder of the institution of the family, but I believe He had a much broader vision when He called Himself our Father and us His children. I am privileged to be in "the" family and I hope you feel the same way.

And in conclusion, here are some snapshots of my Christmas, including the days before and after:

Christmas morning at the Peterson home

Baking and decorating Christmas cookies. Me, left; Janae Peterson, upper right, and Immaculate Wafula, lower right.

From upper left clockwise, the Rudolph family visiting from Wisconsin over Christmas and New Years; SHIM staff Christmas party on the island; David Smith with some silly glasses; Peterson family Christmas tree; Janae and Pastor Bob Peterson presenting a Christmas song he wrote at a local Christmas gathering in Jinja; Christmas dinner - beef, chicken, rice, potatoes, cassava and greens - yum!; Johnathan Smith demonstrating his quickly-developing crawling skills; Spots - the Peterson's playful and cuddly kitten; SHIM staff Christmas party; stockings at the Peterson home (mine is on the far right); center photos - Santa visits Uganda, and a visit to see the Twali family - Julius, Ruth, Andrew and Baby Joseph, who was born Dec. 30.

Today, Jan. 2, we trekked out to Itanda Falls - the most impressive waterfalls/rapid area I have ever seen. It was awe-inspiring as we took in the width of the Nile River and the water that roared and rushed in massive volume downstream. Pictures do not do it justice. It was the closest thing I have seen to the incredible power of the Pacific Ocean off the Oregon coast. I can't easily upload videos, but would certainly love for you to have a better "taste" of Itanda. I guess you will just have to visit. : )

Itanda Falls Collage - People pictured: Top left, Peterson kids - Joshua, Jon, Janae and Josiah; center, the Rudolphs; lower right, me.

I pray you had a blessed Christmas and a happy New Year - surrounded by family, whether of physical or spiritual blood.

Going Home for Christmas

This season two dear friends went home early for Christmas.

They said goodbye to the decaying earth and this brief discordant prelude to eternity, and "moved" to their heavenly abode.

After the Bible camp a couple of weeks ago, I learned that Deana, a gal I had worked with at the newspaper for a long time had passed away only a few days before. A long hidden illness had cut her life short quickly.

The news was jarring and I found myself frozen in moments of shock in the days following. She was among the first people I met at The Chief and she taught me much about the inner workings of a newspaper. We spent many hours in the office, working side by side - our desks hardly ten feet apart for a number of years.

At 42, Deana's life seemed cut short, and I wondered why. She seemed to have so much more life to live, dreams to pursue, goals to meet, family and friends to be with and enjoy. But her Creator called her home.

Though I will miss her smiling face behind the desk, I will remember and treasure the things I learned from her, especially those beyond the printed page. Devotion to Jesus and her church, loyalty and love for her large family and her wide circle of friends, creativity shared in generous ways, selfless dedication to her work - these qualities of Deana's remain in my heart and my memory.

Then this week I learned of the passing of Grandpa Grass, a father, grandfather and great-grandfather of some dear friends of mine. I also called him Grandpa and so enjoyed the times I saw and visited with him. One such a time was just days before I left again for Uganda this past summer. I cherish those memories.

He was 91 and had bravely endured pain and suffering for some time. His dear bride of many years had gone before him earlier this year and I know his heart was aching to be reunited with her. I can also only imagine how he longed to see his Savior face to face - the one he had loved and served for many years. 

As I write, my heart is aching as I miss these dear souls. I wish I was in the states to be there to help provide comfort and support as their family and friends honor their memory in various services. I will miss seeing Deana and Grandpa Grass when I return home. I think the sense of loss will be felt once again.

Yet, they say you cannot be in two places at one time. And as we prepare for the imminent celebration of Christ's birth and His coming to earth, I imagine Deana and Grandpa Grass are very glad to be "home" for Christmas this year.

A Merry "Malaria" Christmas?

I seem to have a knack for getting sick around a holiday.

Chickenpox came Thanksgiving Eve when I was just a little girl. Later, in my mid-teens,I sprained my wrist shortly before July 4th and my birthday (July 9th).

And then the most recent "celebratory" illness occurred this week. Sunday evening and Monday I was feeling "odd," which prompted me to go to a Jinja medical clinic. After having a blood test done, I was told I had "much" malaria in my blood.

I had been holding my breath (not in anticipation) for some time for my first encounter with this oh-too-common Ugandan illness, that at some point nearly every missionary here has to face. I right away began my medicine and wondered what I was in for in the coming days.

Female mosquitos are the carriers of the malaria parasites, which invade the human's liver and red blood cells. (BTW, male mosquitos are vegetarians, eating only plant nectar.)

"The parasite is relatively protected from attack by the body's immune system because for most of its human life cycle it resides within the liver and blood cells and is relatively invisible to immune surveillance." - Wikipedia

I have heard rather terrible stories about malaria and its range of symptoms. They can include fever, chills, joint pain (like your body was "run over by a Mack truck"), headache, vomiting, diarrhea, anemia, general overall weakness, jaundice, convulsions, retina damage, and an enlarged spleen. If, however, malaria goes untreated it can progress to even graver symptoms and can be deadly. This is not a disease to mess with.

"There were an estimated 225 million cases of malaria worldwide in 2009.An estimated 655,000 people died from malaria in 2010^, a 5% decrease from the 781,000 who died in 2009 according to the World Health Organization's 2011 World Malaria Report, accounting for 2.23% of deaths worldwide. Ninety percent of malaria-related deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa, with the majority of deaths being young children." - Wikipedia

I did feel as if I had the flu for the last few days, but am so very thankful my symptoms were not as bad as some. I don't know why, and I don't know if it will be the same in future encounters.

I am feeling pretty "normal," or as normal as I can get. ; )

Right now, I am glad I will have a merry and malaria-free Christmas. Thank you so much to all who prayed for me - indeed God heard and answered! He is greater than any illness!

Information Source: Wikipedia
Photo Source: Microsoft Office Clipart

Gaining New Vision

(The following is a recent e-mail update I sent out.)

I remember clearly the day I received my first pair of glasses (half my lifetime ago). My parents were prompted to get my sister and I eyewear when they discovered we couldn't properly see distances. Ordering the same frozen dessert from Dairy Queen because I couldn't properly see the sign was getting a bit old. ; )

As I slipped on my my new glasses on that special day, I was taken aback by the brightness and clarity of the world around me. There were so many things I had apparently been missing. Details - like a man's unshaven face and leaves on trees jumped out at me. I wouldn't trade a clearer vision for those pre-glasses days! The "burden" of putting something on my face every day, all day, is no comparison to the great benefit of being able to see clearly.

In early November I began a four-month journey in an online course - the "Perspectives on the World Christian Movement." Just a few minutes ago, I finished listening to a lecturer speak about God's movement through history - from Biblical times up to our day, and how He has used people all over the world to advance His message of love, grace and redemption.

Through this course, I feel as if I have put on new spiritual glasses, gaining a greater vision of what God has been and is doing in the world. Taking a huge step back, I am gaining a greater glimpse of God, His incredible purposes and how He wants to involve each of us in His global, history-enfolding and unfolding plan.

During one of my recent Bible studies with the island girls, I asked them why they had received salvation. Most replied, "to be saved from sin" or "to go to heaven." These are true, but are really only a small part of a very big picture. I asked the girls that if they had a cure for a horrible disease, would it not be wrong to withhold that information from people who desperately needed it?

You and I have indeed been saved from sin and thus we are destined for eternity in the presence of God in heaven, but being a follower of Christ is so much more. Before Jesus ascended to heaven, He gave "marching orders" to His disciples.

"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always to the end of the age." - Matthew 28:18-20

"And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." - Matthew 24:14 (emphasis mine)

Many of us long for the return of Jesus, but may not realize we have an important part to play to help usher in His second coming. The Great Commission (given in Matthew 28) was not Jesus' words only to the 11 disciples, but to all of His disciples in all future generations. I am a missionary, but so are you. If you are a Christian, you are automatically a missionary - to be a witness for Christ. You have been given a message, a mission and a mandate. We have information about the "cure" for the horrible worldwide "disease" of sin.

"But," you may ask, "I don't feel called to a foreign land." All around us, whether in the U.S., Africa or in any place around the world, there are lost people - needing to know the hope of salvation and God's incredible love and purposes for them. You can be a missionary to people that other Christians will never meet or reach.

 I encourage you to find out what God is doing around you and in the world, and take your part in the big picture. You will be amazed as you gain a greater vision of God's incredible heart and desire for peoples of every tribe and tongue to someday worship Him.

May God bless and strengthen you as you serve Him in your corner of the world!

A brief update on what is happening here:

• This week I am taking 10 students from our island school to a Word of Life Bible camp outside of Kampala. (Read this previous post for more information.) Some of the students are new Christians and/or those who need deepening of their faith. One young man in our group is Muslim and one young lady is Catholic. I have been praying for "my" kids as well as the others who will be at the camp - that they would see God in a new and deeper way, and thus be drawn to walk closer to Him. I would so appreciate your prayers this week!
• The island school concluded its year on Nov. 24 and now the teachers and students are on holiday until late January, when the new school year begins. Please be in prayer for the students - for God's protection of their minds and bodies. Some come from non-Christian homes and villages and peers who often pressure them to make wrong choices. We desire the island students to be lights for Christ in their homes and communities!
• The Morning Star Ladies' Bible study is also on break. In my last time with the girls, I challenged them to memorize Ephesians 5:1-17 during their two-month holiday. Pray that the words of this chapter would penetrate their hearts and minds, and that the lessons on purity taught during the Bible study in the recent term would be recalled to rightly direct their decisions and behavior.
• Christmas time is coming! The SHIM family will soon be going on a holiday break, but there will still be a lot of activity going on, with visitors, traveling, and holiday gatherings in the coming weeks. Pray that our focus would remain on Christ during this special season and that we would have opportunity to share His hope with whoever we meet.

Thank you so much for your continued prayers, support and encouragement! I am so very grateful to God for each of you!

May God bless you abundantly and grant you joy, hope and peace as you reflect on His blessed birth in this special season!

P.S. I highly recommend the Perspectives course to any and every Christian. Classes are available online and in classroom settings around the U.S. and the world. Visit www.perspectives.org for more information.

Photo Source: Microsoft Office Clip Art

Amazed

Sunset on the Nile.

 Lately I have been reading through some of the Old Testament prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah. These men foretold of Israel's imminent discipline, but also of the coming One who would rule righteously and serve as a Good Shepherd to the flock of Israel and ultimately the whole world.

  As I read the prophecies and imagine the expectant waiting of hundreds of years for this promised Messiah, I am amazed at the simplicity of the Christmas story. In fact, I really don't understand it - it is too simple and uncomplicated. Jesus' coming had been promised since Creation, yet when He arrived on the scene, He came as a helpless babe, was wrapped in swaddling clothes and born in a lowly stable - not the regal entrance a king deserves. And the welcoming committee consisted of hillside shepherds - not exactly the upper crust of society. I tell you, I just don't get it.
 
  The other day, a friend and I were discussing how we often put God in a box. We believe He will act according to our "logic" and what may make perfect sense to us. Or we try and pin Him to a pattern - He did it this way in this past, so we expect Him to repeat a specific mode of operation. It makes sense, doesn't it?

 But, if you review Biblical history, you see that God rarely repeated His miraculous works, choosing instead to work in ways that, in a sense, blew the minds of those involved. Why not show off His power, creativity and glory? Why not "wow" the onlookers with great displays of might? He is God, isn't He? And, as the Bible tells us, His ways and thoughts are far beyond ours.

 So, that brings me back to the birth of Jesus - why is it so simple? I certainly don't comprehend it, but I am amazed. Maybe this humble entrance was to show that Christ truly became one of us - flesh and blood - the Creator becoming like the creation. And that is perhaps the most remarkable miracle of all - our awesome, everlasting God choosing to enter our world, not as a triumphant stately king, but as a little infant. I am amazed at that thought.

 I am hoping that when we reach heaven, God will tell us the "rest of the story" for the many unanswered questions we have now. Did Adam have a bellybutton? ; ) What was the Garden of Eden like? What did Noah's ark look like? How did He get the pairs of animals there? Why did He choose people like Moses, David, Rahab, Peter? What did Jesus write in the dust in the story in John 8? Not that I expect God to "defend" why He did this or that, but I am just curious as to the behind-the-scenes production notes.

But in the meantime, we don't have to "understand" God's ways to truly appreciate them. And that is where faith comes in - believing and trusting even though we have don't have 20/20, 3-D vision of God's incredible acts and His sovereign purposes throughout history. That leaves us in the most appropriate posture for this time of year - kneeling in amazement before Immanuel, "God with us."

Merry Christmas!!

My first Christmas in Uganda, Dec. 2006.