The story of the Magi

The story of the Magi…..

The Magi and the Eternal Effect of Our Work Posted: 30 Dec 2013 10:01 PM PST Have you ever wondered what led the wise men to undertake their long, dangerous journey to Bethlehem? What led them to believe that the particular star they followed would lead them to a great king? What most people know about the Magi comes from popular traditions and Christmas carols, few of which are supported by the biblical text. Matthew does not suggest the Magi were kings, he does not say they were three in number, nor is it likely they were from the Orient. Who then were these Magi, and where did they originate? Craig Chester, past president of the Monterey Institute for Research in Astronomy gives the following description of the Magi: The group of Magi in question came "from the East." They might have been Zoroastrians, Medes, Persians, Arabs, or even Jews. They probably served as court advisors, making forecasts and predictions for their royal patrons based on their study of the stars, about which they were quite knowledgeable. Magi often wandered from court to court, and it was not unusual for them to cover great distances in order to attend the birth or crowning of a king, paying their respects and offering gifts. It is not surprising, therefore, that Matthew would mention them as validation of Jesus' kingship, or that Herod would regard their arrival as a very serious matter. The Magi were important, powerful people of their day. The mention of their visit to Jerusalem was Matthew's way of securing the testimony of top scientific authorities to authenticate the royal birth of Jesus. There are many references in ancient literature to Magi visiting kings and emperors. For example, Tiridates, king of Armenia, led a procession of Magi to pay homage to Nero in Rome in AD 66. Josephus records that Magi also visited Herod in about 10 B.C. A visit by the Magi to pay homage to a newborn king would not have appeared unusual to the original readers of Matthew's gospel. It would not, however, have gone unnoticed. In fact, Matthew 2:3 says that not only was Herod disturbed but also "all Jerusalem with him." The Magi were such important individuals; they probably traveled with a large entourage that included soldiers, even a small army for protection. So it should not be surprising that Herod and the citizens of Jerusalem were troubled when they arrived. What Led the Magi to Jerusalem? The Magi must have seen an unmistakably clear astronomical/astrological message to urge them on such a long, dangerous journey. In Matthew 2:2, the Magi indicated that they saw something in the night sky that was so significant it convinced them to make the trip of more than a thousand miles to Jerusalem to look for this new king. How could seeing "signs in the sky" inform the Magi that a king of the Jews had been born? The answer may take us back more than 500 years to the work of one of God's faithful servants during the Babylonian exile. We read that King Nebuchadnezzar assigned Daniel to the high office of "chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and diviners" (Daniel 5:11). In other words, Daniel was appointed chief of the Magi. The Magi of the first century would have most certainly studied the writing of Daniel and possibly other Jewish writings with which Daniel would have been associated, such as the book of Isaiah. This connection between Daniel and Magi may help to explain why the Magi in question 600 years later expected a Jewish king to arrive in Judea near the end of the first century. In fact, there is evidence that Daniel's prophecy of the coming of a powerful Jewish king was well known to many in the ancient world in the first century. Both the Jewish historian Josephus and the Roman historian Tacitus wrote about a widely held belief based on ancient writings among the Jews of a great world ruler that would be from Judea. It is likely therefore that the Magi followed the star based on their study of Daniel's writings. Because Daniel was faithful in his work, God used him to bring the news of the birth of Christ to both his fellow Israelites and even the some of the most powerful, knowledgeable, and influential Gentiles of the day. For the Good of the City In Jeremiah 29, we find part of Jeremiah's letter to the exiles in Babylon: "seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare" (Jeremiah 29:7). These exiles, including Daniel, had seen the destruction of their homeland, the death of their family members, and the demolishing of their holiest place of worship. It must have been hard to work for the good of a city that had destroyed his homeland, yet Daniel obeyed God's call and became "chief of the Magi" and an adviser to the king. In a way, we too are in "exile," for we live in a fallen, sinful world and look forward to when Christ will return and restore it. But rather than sit passively, we actively engage in the world because God calls us to "work in the peace and prosperity of the city" here and now. With Christmas passed and the business year about to start again it is good to be reminded about the effect of our work. God calls us to be faithful in the here and now, even when we can't always see the result of what we do. We have no idea how God will use it. Take the story of Edward Kimball, a Sunday school teacher. Concerned for the spiritual wellbeing of his pupils, he never gave up, even though the task of teaching a group of rowdy boys could be mundane and difficult. It turns out that through Kimball's teaching, evangelist D. L. Moody came to Christ. In his lifetime, Moody led thousands to Christ, including Wilbur Chapman. Chapman himself became an evangelist who converted the famous preacher Billy Sunday. During his many evangelistic meetings, Sunday led Mordecai Ham to accept the gospel. And who did Ham reach? His preaching led to the conversion of Billy Graham, who preached to more people than any other individual and led untold thousands to Christ. Today, few people remember Edward Kimball. Yet because of his faithfulness and tenacity, God used his efforts to set off an incredible chain of events that saved millions. The story of the star of Bethlehem and the Magi does not start in Matthew 2. It extends hundreds of years back to the Babylonian exile where Daniel faithfully answered God's call to work and engage in the culture—even in the most difficult of times. If we are faithful in this same call, who knows how God will use what we do today to further his kingdom tomorrow.

I can't believe it is Nov. 17th. Where did time go. I have been journaling more and doing a daily bible study. All of that has helped me so much! I have had a lot of joy in my life. I've substituted a few times and then stopped. I entered three Craft shows and have been vey busy preparing my "PRODUCTs OF LOVE". The things I make by hand are to help people feel better.

Butterfly pillows are for neck and back pain but I first made them for Stroke patience in rehab for Speech Therapy. My sis is a Speech Pathologist and wanted me to make her some sooooo…

150 Butterflies later here I am. I haven't really sold very many but, I give a lot away.  Which makes me happy! Through proven research people say they can't live without their pillows. Husbands fight over them and kids take them over also. They have been great for Cancer patients in Chemo. Mothers have used them for head rest while nursing. Which bring me to my next product…..

Sorry for the pic but this is a TaTA Tent for Baby's dining privacy.

Next are my heart pillows for Patients that have surgery or baby support for nursing.

I have made gaint 18X20 heart pillows of varies colors.

Next comes the 

NAPPY SACS for children's  nap time pleasure. Pillow and sleeping pouch rolls up for 

convenient storage. Various colors.

But latest new items….

Fussy Gussy Aprons for the Princess that cooks!

also

Stone and wire bracelets.

Come see all my wares at St. Lukes Catholic School on Callaghan Rd and 410, 

Nov.21 and 22 at 9a.m. to 5p.m.

Also at Region 20 Eduction center Dec. 6th  from 9a.m. to 2p.m.

Exit Waters St. off of I35north  go left turn at first light go right two blks. 

See you there.

and 

DECEMBER 7

10a.m. to 5 p.m.

KRISKINMARKET

AT

BEETHOVEN HALLE

422 PEREIDA ST.

KING WILLIAM DISTRICT

Old but still going

It's been a while since I've written a post and I feel a little rusty. So, God be with me as I write this.

On The Go

 My blogging has been on the back burner since I have retired. No time for that when you are having fun.  It took about seven months to get over the idea that I didn't have to go to work everyday. I tried several volunteer jobs and they just weren't for me. I must say I was really trying to stay busy and wasn't enjoying it. No one tells you that you are going to go through some serious transition time. Well I am here to say.....when you retire expect some adjustments.  I have heard from some of my retired friends that it took them a year to fully recover.  Wish someone would have given me this information.
Now to tell you what's happening to me now through
God's grace and love.

In the August I went and applied to be a substitute in the Catholic School system of San Antonio.
I quickly visited the larger schools and passed out my handout with credentials and phone number. Just like I learned in Public Relations 101.  No calls came. It was early September and so I decided to volunteer at one of the schools and start getting to know some teachers at that school. I paid my dues when I had to dust and sort reading level books from grades 1st through 5th. This job took a month of once a week spending time in a small room isolated from anyone, but, I got it done in record breaking time. I figured the sooner I got this job done, I could move on to the next "job".  I was hoping more in a classroom area. Now it was Oct. and I began getting calls to substitute! Boy was I thrilled.  It worked out to be just the kind of job I needed.  I could choose my days and the classes and still have time to go out to lunch, shop, or just be at home. God is so great!!!!

This kind of schedule affords me the opportunity to travel and see my kids. I have taken four trip to help one or the other of the girls. The youngest daughter moved to Atlanta and I help move her in, the first daughter needed me to babysit when she was having to make appearances for her new Book
"STRESS POINTS FOR THE 20 Somethings"  So, God does have a plan for me!!!!!!
I enjoy going to Atlanta and staying for a week and then hopping on the plane to N.C. to see my little family there.  My husband has been gracious enough to let me spend lots of time away from home.
His idea of my retirement is to have fun, enjoy our family and work whenever it is convenient for me.
What a wonderful guy.

I have spent most of my time subbing at one particular school.  I love going there and enjoying the   pre-k and kinder classes. The faculty is very loving and the students are outstanding in every way.  I love it!!!!  So see God has a plan for me and I know he's got plenty in store for me, because, He is so full of surprises.  Thank you Lord for loving me. He is so great!!!

I pray for all of you who are out there teaching and doing God's work.  It's a really tough world and you as a teacher are definitely doing it for love, because that's just the GOOD NATURE of teaching. God bless you. And don't forget to put a little joy, joy, joy in your life.  GOD'S JOY!!!!!!

Retirement

This summer I traveled to Europe to see Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Budapest!

This is something you all need to do when you are young and able to climb,walk, and enjoy traveling to exciting places. I save my spending money all year to tour some place in Europe every other year.

I have retired now and my trip days maybe limited to seeing the USA. There are so many wonders of the world right under our noise right here in America. This was my four trip in six years and I have seen everything. Truthfully I have seen all the palaces, castles, museums, mountains,wineries, monuments, sculptures, folk art, and souvenirs I want to see. Loved the trips, but got the Tee shirts and don't need anymore.

Back to retiring......After 27 years of teaching I retired. Some say "You are so lucky"!  Yes, I am ,but, you know how active I am and how I do not like dusting, washing, or making grocery lists. Come on, there is got to be more than that!! So now I am looking for some volunteer causes to use my energy. In my younger days I volunteered so much it turned into a full time job. I was not getting paid and wondered why I shouldn't just get a job instead and earn some money. As traveling...I been there done volunteer jobs and got the Tee shirts and don't need anymore!

This leads me to my main point of this blog. I prayer that God gives me a sign for what he wants me to do next in life to facilitate in showing His love to others. I always felt teaching was my gift of showing his love to children through my acts,words, and deeds.  Now I am in a new chapter of my life and am searching for what to do?

I know He has a plan and one of these days I am going to say to myself, "Oh this is what you want from me"!  I will have more time to pray for you my teacher friends. I will ask Him to bless you and give you joy, joy, joy in your days working with children of God.
Teaching is a vocation from God. It's a gift. So use it for the glory of your Father in Heaven.  Go for it!!
I will be searching too. I am looking for that joy he brings to us when we follow his plan not ours.

How time goes by.

Sept. 17 2011

I can't believe that I have been in school for three weeks with my new class. With each new class opens your eyes to opportunities. Yes, I have allot of new ideas to implement and some old stand byes that work every time. Isn't it fun how as teachers you are always looking for the newest gadget or updated curriculum to use.

Well, I've got the best of the best... IPAD2. That thing is amazing. Only thing about it.....I don't know everything I need to know on how to use it. I even went to two training. I'm not a techie but with God's help I'll learn. The students love to use it even the ones who have never seen one.

My class this year is a little bit more balanced 9 girls 11 boys.

Every year you know from reading my blog that I feel like a birth a baby and this is the first trimester. At the end of the labor pain comes the finish product... A beautiful human being ready to face the world of kindergarten. The sadness comes in at the end when they leave and I have an empty nest for the summer.

Last year I stop saying "What will I do?" I realized my years of experience of birthing 27 years of babies does pay off. My favorite line now is "I'm not on the JV team any more". With experience comes knowledge that is not written in any book to read. I have the instruction and the experiences of teaching I just need to remember to pray to the Lord to help me remember

those countless memories of things that work and the ones that are not sufficient any more.

I live in the new millennium and need to step up to the new kinds of children and their needs. That's where I say God comes in with all His angels and guides me as I go down this new path.

This all sounds pretty serious and it is. So I must everyday release my pride and pray to God to give strength to hear His words and follow the right path.

What would the world be like with out experienced teachers. Thank you Lord for giving the joy of teaching to me. I hope all of my teacher friends are doing great and that this will be a year of rebirth for you in many ways. Like the metamorphoses of a butterfly we will be born again to serve the Lord each teaching year. Amen

Summer time is winding down.

Summertime is coming to an abutpt end tomorrow, August 15. Yes, I will be heading back to work teaching school and I can say every year there's a nervous anticipation of what the new year will bring.

I have to rely on one thing... I've been doing this for some time. I've lost track of the number of years. It's been around 25 to 27 years. I am confused because I took two different times in my life to work in other professions. I always came back to teaching. I shouldn't be nervous, after all I'm not on the JV team anymore.

This summer was one of many goals; learning how to relax, coping with my spending habit to feel better and accomplishing some simple tasks of cleaning my house after watching one episode of "Hoarders". No I am not a hoarder but things had gotten messy at my house. I made a few trips to Goodwill and that felt great. No, I did not shop there. I delivered donations of un needed items from my house. Check that off the list, the last two days of my vacation were spent making the goal come true. My house looks great. Next goal was to not get depressed so I took on a project for my sister (Rehabilation Therapist) to make a new pattern for a pillow that helps you sleep better and aids patients in rehab. It took me four tries and I finally got the pattern right. That felt good, old skills of pattern adjustment are still intact. These pillows are suppose to realine the neck and spiral cord to help with sleep and comfort in bed. They are like the pillows in the airport you buy for sleeping on the plane. Mine are butterfly shape and are very decorative. So you can toss them on a chair or bed to add color and character to your room.

Check that off the task list. I have made around 25 of these cute little critters.

I did visit my family in North Carolina in June and visited my other daughter twice this summer to clean, clean, an organize her draws, pantry, cabinets. I'm still on that hoarding kick. It took me two episodes of that horrible show to make me go crazy and that's when I realized my ADHD condition demands organization to help me perform comfortably in my Hyperactive world. Yes, we adult Adhder's like things in their place for our own sanity. Everyone likes order, right?

I went out to lunch a few times with best friends and went to some pretty wonderful movies.

The Smurfs with their adult humor was great and the Help was wonderful. I laughed and cried.

Summer school was fun. I loved every minute co- teaching with a good friend.

Of course, the most fun was laying around our beautiful pool and being with my loving husband most every Sat and Sun. Well one more day in the sun and then it will be off to a new year of teaching. Lord please be with me in all I do and say. Help me be the best that I can be in Your name amen.