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"When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child" (Luke 2:17).
In
the course of our work in business chaplaincy we visit people right at their worksite,
including many who work on computers. We notice that people often express
themselves and share their interests by using a photo on their screensaver.
Photographers have examples of their photos, one friend who's a fan of the
Green Bay Packers displays a Packer logo, another shows a photo of bears he saw at his campsite
and so forth. Some of the women use baby photography by Anne Geddes,
showing anonymous babies in all kinds of cute poses, though I've yet to see a Geddes photo shoot on a man's computer.
However
I often do see baby photos on men's computers and I don't have to ask
them,
"What child is this?" In my experience when a man puts a baby photo on
a computer it's his baby! The photo to the right shows Raymond, a
mechanical engineer in one of our companies. His wife just had their
first child in November, a little girl, and Raymond is a very happy
dad, quite pleased to share his photos. You don't have to ask;
you just have to look! Don't be confused by two screens with babies. He doesn't have twins, he's
just doubly proud!
One of the songs many of us will sing this season is, "What Child Is This?" written in 1865. At the age of twenty-nine, English writer William Chatterton Dix was struck with a sudden near-fatal illness and confined to bedrest for several months, during which he went into a deep depression. Yet out of his near-death experience, Dix wrote many hymns, including "What Child Is This?", later set to the traditional English tune "Greensleeves". The song is written in a catechism style (a question followed by an answer) which can be a great aid to learning.
The daily text actually concerns an event at the conclusion of the Christmas narrative. The shepherds had seen Mary, Joseph and the infant Child as He laid in the manger. They now returned to share the report of what they had seen. "The statement which had been told them about this Child" was the message from the angels, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:10,11).
Today let us join the hymnwriter and joyfully sing the answer to the question, "What Child Is This?"
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer:
Father, just as the shepherds spread the word concerning what had been
told them about the Child we too want to spread the word regarding all
that we learn about the Christ Child through the revelation of
Scripture and the Holy Spirit. Thank You for sending Jesus not only to
royalty but also to the peasant, not only to the influential but also
to the unknown. We do not hesitate but joyfully and openly bring Him
glory and honor; the Babe, the Son of Mary. It is in His name that we
pray. Amen.
Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
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Thursday, December 13, 2012
Page from an old hymn book
"What Child Is This?"
Page from an old hymn book
"What Child Is This?"
Listen to this message on your
audio player."When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child" (Luke 2:17).
What Child is this, who, laid to rest,
On Mary’s lap is sleeping,
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet
While shepherds watch are keeping?
On Mary’s lap is sleeping,
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet
While shepherds watch are keeping?
In
the course of our work in business chaplaincy we visit people right at their worksite,
including many who work on computers. We notice that people often express
themselves and share their interests by using a photo on their screensaver.
Photographers have examples of their photos, one friend who's a fan of the
Green Bay Packers displays a Packer logo, another shows a photo of bears he saw at his campsite
and so forth. Some of the women use baby photography by Anne Geddes,
showing anonymous babies in all kinds of cute poses, though I've yet to see a Geddes photo shoot on a man's computer.However
I often do see baby photos on men's computers and I don't have to ask
them,
"What child is this?" In my experience when a man puts a baby photo on
a computer it's his baby! The photo to the right shows Raymond, a
mechanical engineer in one of our companies. His wife just had their
first child in November, a little girl, and Raymond is a very happy
dad, quite pleased to share his photos. You don't have to ask;
you just have to look! Don't be confused by two screens with babies. He doesn't have twins, he's
just doubly proud!One of the songs many of us will sing this season is, "What Child Is This?" written in 1865. At the age of twenty-nine, English writer William Chatterton Dix was struck with a sudden near-fatal illness and confined to bedrest for several months, during which he went into a deep depression. Yet out of his near-death experience, Dix wrote many hymns, including "What Child Is This?", later set to the traditional English tune "Greensleeves". The song is written in a catechism style (a question followed by an answer) which can be a great aid to learning.
The daily text actually concerns an event at the conclusion of the Christmas narrative. The shepherds had seen Mary, Joseph and the infant Child as He laid in the manger. They now returned to share the report of what they had seen. "The statement which had been told them about this Child" was the message from the angels, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:10,11).
Today let us join the hymnwriter and joyfully sing the answer to the question, "What Child Is This?"
This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing;
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The babe, the son of Mary!
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing;
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The babe, the son of Mary!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer:
Father, just as the shepherds spread the word concerning what had been
told them about the Child we too want to spread the word regarding all
that we learn about the Christ Child through the revelation of
Scripture and the Holy Spirit. Thank You for sending Jesus not only to
royalty but also to the peasant, not only to the influential but also
to the unknown. We do not hesitate but joyfully and openly bring Him
glory and honor; the Babe, the Son of Mary. It is in His name that we
pray. Amen.Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and I make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and to prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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