The child

After Matthew 2:1-12 

They find the child

with his mother,

the child foretold

and prophesized;

they fall down and

worship. They know who

this child is, who this child

represents, what this child

means. They see what

has not been seen before,

something truly new

under the sun. They

worship and they offer

gifts, offerings to the child,

the child who portends

what is to come.

 

Painting: Birmingham Museums Trust via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Some Sunday Readings

 

The Unfinished Story – Andrew Kerr at Gentle Reformation. 

 

Heart of My Own Heart: Why I Love ‘Be Thou My Vision’ – Jon Bloom at Desiring God.

 

A Song for New Year’s Eve – poem by William Cullen Bryant via The Imaginative Conservative.

 

All Good Books Are Alike – James Witmer at Story Warren.

The visit

After Matthew 2:1-12 

The magi followed

the star in the sky,

burning bright,

a brilliance unknown

before. 

 

They knew the meaning,

and they followed

the light westward,

down to Jerusalem,

down to the small town

known as David’s city.

 

They brought gifts,

gold, frankincense,

myrrh, gifts fitting

for a king,

for it was a king

they found, a king

in baby’s form,

a child,

 

the child foretold.

 

Photograph by Caleb Stokes via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Some Friday Readings

 

The song of the Shepherds, poem by Richard Bauckham – Malcolm  Guite.

 

Top Books of 2023 – Seth Lewis.

 

Remembering that it happened once – poem by Wendell Berry via Megan Willome.

 

2024 Bible Reading Plans – Bryan Schneider at Gentle Reformation.