God is pleased, not because the Jordan River is great (it's not); not because Jesus is from an important town (He is from the sticks); not because Jesus has done anything great yet. God is pleased because the creation is being made new, not with greatness or power, but in grace.

Under Epiphany's odd light, a star guides foreign Maji’s steps to Bethlehem, A jewish King looks like Pharaoh caring nothing for the messiah, and The holy family seeks refuge in Egypt. This light of the kingdom exposes the normalized oddity of God’s salvation.

Emmanual was worth the Wait.

Born from the womb of darkness, God dared to paint the nascent universe with light. Centuries later, that celestial brushstroke moves in the wonder of Christmas where every dark place shines the light of God With Us

Amidst the unending clamor, Emmanuel orchestrates a silent night.

Giving Christmas gifts to children is so much fun. Seeing the joy on their face as they jump up in surprise, walking all around showing and telling everyone about the great gift. The Christmas Gift really brings us to the heart of the season.

Jesus eats with tax collectors and sinners. He is there when the new little family almost splits up. He is even Emmanuel when the dreams of wonderful Christmas trees come crashing down.

Ahh the Classic Christmas Letter, where we divulge all the braggadocious details of our year but leave out certain difficult parts of struggle. What details would Zecheriah include in a letter? Helping the Temple? Going mute because of unbelief? Childlessness? But Emmanuel comes into his and our midst bringing songs of joy.