My house is full of little things.  Some are useful; some not so useful.  Some are meaningful and some not so meaningful. Some are tied to traditions I “inherited” from my family.  There is no season where this is more apparent than the Christmas season.  Like my mother before me, it is probably my favorite time of the year.  And just like her, I enjoy the wonder of the Christmas story, the carols and all the decorations that go along with them.  Red Pillar Candles were abundant in our home at Christmas.  Encircled by garlands and greens they decorated the mantle and every table top.  Once my mother lit all the candles, put Handel’s Messiah on the stereo (the ancient days!), and along with my dad and their good friends the Gildersleeves sang all the choruses along with the record into the night.  I remember falling asleep thinking I was listening to a heavenly choir.  It is no surprise that my sisters and I love candles at Christmas too- although my “collection” has lessened through the years for practicality’s sake.  This year another special candle made by one of my sisters has center stage on the dining room table.  It too is a reminder of a Christmas memory past, but unlike most of my pillar candles it hasn’t been lit.  The memory makes it too special for me to use it up.  But it is surrounded by little (battery operated) tea lights which are often twinkling away while we eat dinner.
            Light is a central element in the Christmas story.  The shepherds are overwhelmed by the light of the heavenly angel announcing the Savior’s birth (Lk. 2:8-14), the Wisemen are guided to the Christ child by the light of the star (Mt. 2:1-12) and Simeon proclaims that the baby Jesus is a fulfillment of God’s promise that His Servant would be “a light to the nations” (Is. 42:1-7; Lk. 2:25-35).  In the Old Testament the Hebrew word for light is “or”.  In the literal sense it is light from heavenly bodies (Jer. 31:35; Ezek. 32:7) but it can also mean light itself (Gen. 1:3; Ecc. 12:2).  The pillar of fire was a light for Israel in the wilderness (Ex. 13:21).  In the Old Testament (as well as the New) light is always used as a positive symbol, such as for good fortune (Job 30:26); victory (Mic. 7:8-9); justice and righteousness (Is. 59:9); and of one who brings deliverance (Is. 49:6).  There are some prominent expressions that also involve light: the light of one’s face means someone’s favor (Ps. 44:35); to see the light means to live (Ps. 49:19); and to walk in the light means to live by the standards God has made known to us (Is. 2:5). 
            The New Testament word, “phos” (pronounced foe-ss), also carries similar meanings.  It is used for light in itself (Mt. 17:2; 2 Cor. 4:6); light emitted from a luminous body such as a lamp, a candle, a fire (Mt. 14:54; Lk. 8:16; 22:56; Acts. 16: 29;  Js. 1:17; Rev. 18:23), or the sun (Rev. 22:5); of daylight (Jn. 11:9-10) and the opposite of darkness (Mt. 10:27; Lk. 12:3; Eph. 5:13); of the dazzling light which is God’s glory surrounding His throne (1 Tim. 6:16; Rev. 21:24) and Christ’s physical appearance after the Resurrection (Acts 9:3, 5; 22:6, 9, 11; 26:13).  And like its Old Testament counterpart, phos can be used in a figurative fashion as well.  It can mean spiritual understanding (Jn. 3:19; 8:12; Acts 26:18; Rom. 13:2; 2 Cor. 6:14; Eph. 5:8; 1 Jn. 2:8); how that understanding is exhibited in the way one lives (Mt. 5:14-16), and the conscience, i.e. the “inner light” (Mt. 6:23; Lk. 11:35).  But perhaps the most significant use of the word phos in the New Testament is its connection to the fulfillment of Is. 9:2 in Mt. 4:12-17.  Jesus as the Great Teacher and Savior of the World is The Light who brings life and immortality to its fullest in His Gospel (Lk. 2:32; Jn. 1:4-5, 7-9; 3:19; 9:5; 12:35-36, 46) so it is no surprise that He makes the claim “I am the Light of the World” in Jn. 8:12.  But would one expect such a significant Light to make its entrance into the world as a baby?  Probably not!
            There was a time when our boys were growing up that we spent Christmas Eve with some very dear friends.  On that night they turned off all the lights and lit everything by candle light.  The ambiance was quite beautiful!  The church I grew up in also had a wonderful tradition with candles.  As the final minutes of Christmas Eve came to their conclusion the carol “Silent Night” would be sung.  Each person had a small candle in their hands and one by one they would all be lit around the sanctuary.  Precisely at midnight the organ would burst into “Joy to the World” and we’d lift up the candles and we sang about Christ’s birth.  The light of a candle is the epitome of Christmas symbols and a perfect reflection of “those who walked in darkness” coming to “see a great light” even as a babe in a manger (Is. 9:1-7).  It is my hope and prayer that The Candle of Christmas Jesus Christ, would burn brightly in your celebration of His birth this year and that you in turn, will shine His light on those around you.
Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre
 

My house is full of little things.  Some are useful; some not so useful.  Some are meaningful and some not so meaningful. Some are tied to traditions I “inherited” from my family.  There is no season where this is more apparent than the Christmas season.  Like my mother before me, it is probably my favorite time of the year.  And just like her, I enjoy the wonder of the Christmas story, the carols and all the decorations that go along with them.  Red Pillar Candles were abundant in our home at Christmas.  Encircled by garlands and greens they decorated the mantle and every table top.  Once my mother lit all the candles, put Handel’s Messiah on the stereo (the ancient days!), and along with my dad and their good friends the Gildersleeves sang all the choruses along with the record into the night.  I remember falling asleep thinking I was listening to a heavenly choir.  It is no surprise that my sisters and I love candles at Christmas too- although my “collection” has lessened through the years for practicality’s sake.  This year another special candle made by one of my sisters has center stage on the dining room table.  It too is a reminder of a Christmas memory past, but unlike most of my pillar candles it hasn’t been lit.  The memory makes it too special for me to use it up.  But it is surrounded by little (battery operated) tea lights which are often twinkling away while we eat dinner.
            Light is a central element in the Christmas story.  The shepherds are overwhelmed by the light of the heavenly angel announcing the Savior’s birth (Lk. 2:8-14), the Wisemen are guided to the Christ child by the light of the star (Mt. 2:1-12) and Simeon proclaims that the baby Jesus is a fulfillment of God’s promise that His Servant would be “a light to the nations” (Is. 42:1-7; Lk. 2:25-35).  In the Old Testament the Hebrew word for light is “or”.  In the literal sense it is light from heavenly bodies (Jer. 31:35; Ezek. 32:7) but it can also mean light itself (Gen. 1:3; Ecc. 12:2).  The pillar of fire was a light for Israel in the wilderness (Ex. 13:21).  In the Old Testament (as well as the New) light is always used as a positive symbol, such as for good fortune (Job 30:26); victory (Mic. 7:8-9); justice and righteousness (Is. 59:9); and of one who brings deliverance (Is. 49:6).  There are some prominent expressions that also involve light: the light of one’s face means someone’s favor (Ps. 44:35); to see the light means to live (Ps. 49:19); and to walk in the light means to live by the standards God has made known to us (Is. 2:5). 
            The New Testament word, “phos” (pronounced foe-ss), also carries similar meanings.  It is used for light in itself (Mt. 17:2; 2 Cor. 4:6); light emitted from a luminous body such as a lamp, a candle, a fire (Mt. 14:54; Lk. 8:16; 22:56; Acts. 16: 29;  Js. 1:17; Rev. 18:23), or the sun (Rev. 22:5); of daylight (Jn. 11:9-10) and the opposite of darkness (Mt. 10:27; Lk. 12:3; Eph. 5:13); of the dazzling light which is God’s glory surrounding His throne (1 Tim. 6:16; Rev. 21:24) and Christ’s physical appearance after the Resurrection (Acts 9:3, 5; 22:6, 9, 11; 26:13).  And like its Old Testament counterpart, phos can be used in a figurative fashion as well.  It can mean spiritual understanding (Jn. 3:19; 8:12; Acts 26:18; Rom. 13:2; 2 Cor. 6:14; Eph. 5:8; 1 Jn. 2:8); how that understanding is exhibited in the way one lives (Mt. 5:14-16), and the conscience, i.e. the “inner light” (Mt. 6:23; Lk. 11:35).  But perhaps the most significant use of the word phos in the New Testament is its connection to the fulfillment of Is. 9:2 in Mt. 4:12-17.  Jesus as the Great Teacher and Savior of the World is The Light who brings life and immortality to its fullest in His Gospel (Lk. 2:32; Jn. 1:4-5, 7-9; 3:19; 9:5; 12:35-36, 46) so it is no surprise that He makes the claim “I am the Light of the World” in Jn. 8:12.  But would one expect such a significant Light to make its entrance into the world as a baby?  Probably not!
            There was a time when our boys were growing up that we spent Christmas Eve with some very dear friends.  On that night they turned off all the lights and lit everything by candle light.  The ambiance was quite beautiful!  The church I grew up in also had a wonderful tradition with candles.  As the final minutes of Christmas Eve came to their conclusion the carol “Silent Night” would be sung.  Each person had a small candle in their hands and one by one they would all be lit around the sanctuary.  Precisely at midnight the organ would burst into “Joy to the World” and we’d lift up the candles and we sang about Christ’s birth.  The light of a candle is the epitome of Christmas symbols and a perfect reflection of “those who walked in darkness” coming to “see a great light” even as a babe in a manger (Is. 9:1-7).  It is my hope and prayer that The Candle of Christmas Jesus Christ, would burn brightly in your celebration of His birth this year and that you in turn, will shine His light on those around you.
Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre
 

            For many years the little yellow pig with the funky orange and green flowers on her side, a tiny sticker that read, “Who me?” stuck on her nose, and a slot on the top of her back sat on my book shelves holding a small treasure trove of coins in her belly.  I’d purchased her in the mall at a store called “The Smuggler’s Attic” which was somewhat like the cross between a psychedelic Pier 1 Imports home décor shop and an underground bizarre selling questionably legal merchandise.  Every now and then I’d put money in her and every now and then I’d take it out.  For a while she landed on the shelf above the washing machine and collected whatever coins didn’t make it out of pockets before jeans were washed.  Nowadays she sits temporarily on top of my dresser in the bedroom glaringly out of place amongst hairbrushes, pictures and perfume bottles, but still doing the job of holding a few special coins and one old Monopoly dollar bill.  Piggy banks have been around for a long time as a means to teach children the importance of saving but I’m not sure if they’re as widely used today as they were when I bought mine because I thought she was cute back in the day.
            We are always looking for ways to save.  We buy things on sale.  We watch for discounts and compare prices.  We use coupons.  We know we need to save but the Bible is concerned that we know we need to be saved.  More than two hundred centuries ago some shepherds in fields just outside of Bethlehem received an astonishing announcement from an amazing messenger (Lk. 2:8-20).  Luke tells us that as they watched their flocks an angel of the Lord appeared to them and said, “Today, in the city of David, a Savior has been born” (Lk. 2:10).  This was such good news to the shepherds they immediately sought out an audience with this special child (Lk. 2:15-16).  Because we’ve become quite self-sufficient these days, we’ve lost sight of the concept that humankind needs to be saved.  We may catch a glimpse of this when we go through a personal crisis that seems insurmountable.  But we forget that our plight is not limited to the physical realm.  The Bible tells us that in the spiritual realm we are desperately in need of a Savior (Rom. 3:21-26).
            Our need for a Savior is perhaps best illustrated in the grandest stories about salvation- the Exodus (Ex. 7-12).  Bound to a lifetime of slavery by their Egyptian taskmasters, the Israelites groaned under the weight of their labor.  They knew there was no way out of this situation.  They knew they did not have the physical or financial means to free themselves from their circumstances.  Enter Moses, an unlikely representative for the God who could save them, and after repeated resistance from Pharaoh “delivers” as promised.  We may not have a physical “slave owner” in our lives, but we are bound to one (Jn. 8:34; Rom. 6:6, 16-17. 20) and only a Savior can set us free from its grasp.  Hence the angel announces to those fear stricken shepherds that the Savior who is born is not solely for the shepherds alone; He is for all people (Lk. 2:10).
            Advent is often promoted as a time of waiting for the birth of Christ.  It was a wait that began in Eden (Gen. 3:15) whose fulfillment was promised through the prophets (Mic. 5:2-4) and was announced as fulfilled to a field full of sheep and shepherds.  The terms the angel uses to describe this child are significant.  He is a “soter” meaning savior, deliverer, preserver and specifically one who saves another from danger or destruction and brings them to a state of prosperity and happiness.  When spoken of Jesus as the Messiah it refers to Him as the Savior who delivers people from the power of sin, eternal death, the punishment and misery which is the consequence of that sin, and gives them eternal life and blessedness in His kingdom (Lk. 2:11; Acts 5:31;13:23; Phil. 3:20; 2 Pet. 1:1, 11; 2:20; 3:2, 18).  Jesus is also called “christos”, the Greek equivalent to the Hebrew term messiah, meaning an anointed one.  The term in the Old Testament referred to everyone who was anointed with the holy oil- primarily the priesthood and kings- but it was also applied to others who acted as redeemers or deliverers.  In the Gospels the word is applied chiefly to Jesus as He is anointed to be the Savior of the World (Mt. 1:17; 2:4; 16:16; Mk. 12:35; 13:21; Lk. 2:11, 26; Acts 2:36; 9:22; 18:28).  The first Advent, and the titles given to Jesus when it took place, addresses our need to be saved.
            Have you ever wondered why our little coin collectors came to be shaped like a pig?  Apparently in the Middle Ages the type of clay used to make them was called pygg and the pots became known as pig pots.  Even though other materials eventually replaced clay as the material of choice the name stuck.  When we were children our piggy banks reminded us that we needed to save money.  As adults Advent reminds us that we needed a Savior.  The Good News is we have one! (Lk. 2:10)
Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

             Christmas is fast approaching and I’m glad to say that this year, I’m doing pretty well in the gift department.  I only have 2 more presents to get and send.  All the gift buying and wrapping often causes me to appreciate many of the gifts I’ve received through the years.  Some of those gifts have come from faraway places.  The friends and loved ones who bought these treasures for me knew the kinds of things I like and their gifts reflect that: a little copper pyramid from Egypt, Brussels lace from Wales, a lovely decorated bird from the Ukraine, and a “widow’s mite” from Israel.  None of them seem unusual and all of them have a personal meaning to me.
            Holiday souvenirs are not the only gifts that people give and receive.  When a baby is born the same usually happens.  Those gifts can range from the practical (diapers, bottles, baby clothes) to the more elaborate (monitoring systems, strollers that convert to car seats and baby rockers and numerous toys!) but in the end they are all useful in one way or another even if it’s just to entertain baby while you make dinner.  Not many people would think of bringing the kinds of gifts to a baby that the Wise Men brought to Jesus but Scripture tells us they brought 3 very costly gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh.  It is obvious to most of us that gold is a gift you’d bring to a king and Matthew’s Gospel tells us that Wise Men did believe the star which led them to Jesus was an indication that royalty had been born (Mt. 2:1-2).  So we read of this gift and naturally pass by the other two without much thought.  But here is where the “baby gifts” get interesting!
            The use of essential oils has become quite popular recently but they are nothing new.  They were used widely in the ancient world for much of the same reasons we use them today, most notably in perfumes and medicinal treatments.  The Ebers Papyrus, a 16th c. B. C. list of medicines and recipes, includes both of the oils brought by the Wise Men to Jesus in Matthew 2- frankincense and myrrh.  Frankincense was extracted from the trunk of the Boswelia tree.  When the bark was cut resin would ooze out and harden into whitish beads.  These were collected and processed to make the oil.  Myrrh was also a plant based gum resin which was reddish in color.  Its name is derived from the Semetic root word mor which means “to be bitter” because of its taste.  Both of these oils were used perfumes and for incense (Ps. 45:8; Prov. 7:17; Est. 2:12; Rut. 3:3; SOS 3:6; 4:6; 2 Sam. 12:20; Ex. 30:7-8, 23, 34; Lev. 2:1-12; 6:14-18; 24:7).  Once processed the oils were transported throughout the ancient world via camel caravans (Gen. 37:25; 43:11; Is. 60:6; Rev. 18:13).
            Although oils were used by both rich and poor, male or female to cover over offensive odors and protect the skin from the ravages of the climate and age, frankincense and myrrh did not fall in that common use category.  The regions where their sources grew (Arabia, Ethiopia, Somalia and India) made them more costly, so they along with several other oils were considered luxury items.  In fact because of their value and cost, frankincense and myrrh were on equal par with gold and silver as commodities for trade and a sign of wealth (Is. 20:12-15).  So it is not surprising that the Wise Men brought them along with their gold as a gift for the newborn royal the star had led them to.  What is surprising in the context of this “baby gift” is that both of these oils were used to prepare bodies for burial as well (Mk. 15:23; Jn. 19:39-40).  Can you imagine receiving a gift like that for your baby or even yourself?  They don’t seem to be as loving and personal as the collection of gifts I have in my home.  However, like the gift of gold the Wise Men brought which truly was fitting for a king (even though He was only a baby at the time) the frankincense and myrrh by both their value and purpose were fitting too in that they reflect the reason why this King was born in the first place.
            In the much-cherished Christmas hymn In the Bleak Mid-winter Christina Rosetti’s poignant lyrics ask an important question, “What can I give Him?”  The poetess considers the shepherds’ and Wise Men’s gifts as significant offerings but laments that she is not in a similar situation, so what can she give?  The conclusion is that she can give her heart.  In a commercial culture where Christmas has become a give-and-take holiday we check off a list of gifts we have to give and look forward to the ones we will get.  The Wise Men remind us that the One most deserving of gifts at Christmas (and especially those of value) is the Child whose gifts signified His death.  Rosetti’s poem reminds us that the best gift we can give Him in response to the gift He gave to us is our heart (Dt. 6:5; Mt. 22:37; Mk. 12:30; Lk. 10:27).
Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre