After the Shepherds

Prayer list and prayer time.

Christmas and has come and gone. What is the day after Christmas like for you? How many of you went back to work today? How many of you have felt a little “hung over” from the Christmas cheer? Now we move rapidly to the final days of 2007 and prepare for “auld lang syne.” We have decorations to take down and put away for next year. Exchanges need to be made perhaps. If you used a charge card during this holiday season, bills must now be paid. We have to learn to start saying and writing 2008. The day after Christmas is not usually as much fun as the anticipation of Christmas itself.

Let’s sing some songs to help reprioritize our thoughts

Suggestions:

567 — Restore My Soul

31 — Be Still and Know

742 — Upon Life’s Billows (Count Your Many Blessings)

Prayer

Have you ever thought what the day after Jesus’ birth was like? Randy and I were talking on Monday and I’m not sure who suggested this view but it stuck with me. We had several “jokes” about the day after the shepherds. This time of year, some of our Christmas cards have this angelic Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus. Light appears in streaks throughout the stable. All is quiet. The angels herald the birth of Jesus and the shepherds stand looking in amazement. But the shepherds left. The angels went back to their celestial home. And the darkness of that night gave way to the light of the next day.

Can’t you hear Mary --- Joseph take the baby for awhile. I am absolutely worn out.

Joseph saying --- I changed the last diaper; it’s your turn.

Mary and Joseph looking at one another and saying “Now what?” Other than a brief urgent message from God to leave Judea and go to Egypt to escape Herod’s murderous rampage and then a latter message to move from Egypt to Nazareth, the first 12 years of Jesus’ life are hidden to us.

The day after the shepherds came to worship the newborn babe must have been a let down day. It isn’t possible to stay enthused all the time. Sooner rather than later, Mary and Joseph got into the routine of feeding, diapering, and raising this newborn. Other children came along. Life was filled with routine. Jesus learned developed like most children do --- walking, talking, learning to care for himself. While the images of the night of worship never left them, life cannot stop at one day. One of the songs of this season is an Elvis Presley recording “Everyday like Christmas.” The chorus simply says “Oh, why can’t everyday be like Christmas. Why can’t that feeling go on endlessly. For if everyday could be just like Christmas, what a wonderful world this would be.”

I agree with the sentiment of the song. Wouldn’t it be great if people treated each other like everyday was Christmas? The intent of the song focuses on kindness and respect that people have for each other at this time of the year. Nice sentiment. But it isn’t possible. Neither was it possible for Mary and Joseph and even baby Jesus to preserve the stable night with shepherds, angels, and worship. Life has to move on. We don’t always like it, but such is reality.

Let’s continue with some songs that remind of us day to day living

Suggestions:

Christian Warfare Medley:

646 — Onward, Christian Soldiers

647 — Soldiers of Christ, Arise

648 — Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus

634 — We’ll Work Till Jesus Comes

Prayer

There are several points to make, but one that I want us to focus on --- There is always a day after.

Look at the life of Jesus. There was a day after the shepherds

Transfiguration. There was a day after the mountain top experience.

Death. There was a day after Jesus died and then the resurrection.

Ascension. There was a day after he left this earth and a Pentecost yet to come.

And in our lives.

There is a day after Christmas.

There is a day after the wedding day or the day of birth.

There is a day after the kids leave home and retirement.

There is a day after death. That will be the best day of all.

Let’s end with a song that reminds us of the day after

Suggestions:

916 — What a Day that Will Be

Prayer

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