Christmas 11--Star of Bethlehem

January 4

Numbers 24:17 and Matthew 2:1 & 2

The Star of the East has generated discussion and speculation for millennia. Astrologers and historians have provided multiple scenarios that make sense if you need them. God could have used a natural phenomenon or God could have created a single source of that light. It really doesn’t matter. The light was there and the magi (gentiles) attributed it to the birth of the promised king of the Jews. The task of taking the message of Jesus to non-believers is now the task of the spiritual children of Abraham – today’s stars in a dark world.

“I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light” may not be familiar to you as either a Christmas or an Epiphany hymn, but it clearly reflects to response of the child of God yearning to follow the star lit path to the Savior. Sing it with joy as you kneel at the manger. “Hail, O Source of Every Blessing” sings of the fact that gentiles, now included in the spiritual family of Abraham, also live a life of witness and praise.

Hail, O Source of ev’ry blessing, Father of our human race!

Gentiles now, Your grace possessing, In Your courts obtain a place.

Grateful now, we fall before You, In Your Church rejoice to live,

See Your glory and adore You, Thankful for the grace You give.

Once far off but now invited, We approach Your sacred throne,

In Your covenant united, Reconciled, redeemed, made one.

Now revealed to eastern sages, See the Star of Mercy shine,

Myst’ry hid in former ages, Myst’ry great of love divine.

Hail, O all inviting Savior! Gentiles now their off’rings bring,

In Your temples seek Your favor, Jesus Christ our Lord and King.

May we, body, soul, and spirit, Live devoted to your Praise,

Glorious realms of bliss inherit, Grateful anthems ever raise.

For the Family:

On a dark oval place a star of Bethlehem (a 4 pointed star) with your name on it. Make one for each member of your family. Hang this symbol on your Tree of Promise and ask God to guide you as you share the good news of salvation with others.

Bible Journaling:

Christmas 11-
Star of Bethlehem
Numbers 24:17
Bible Journaling 
Connie Denninger 

From the Kitchen:

Mom and Dad made candies throughout the year, but they were more apt to have it available in the winter time. They dipped pretzels in melted chocolate, made no bake cookies that were really closer to fudge than they were to cookies, and fixed peanut butter crunch sticks that had way too much cholesterol for anyone over 20. But my favorite, by far, is still praline crunch. 

PRALINE CRUNCH

 Dora Pfitzer Meyermann-Mother of Natalie Hartwig

¼ Cup butter

½ Cup sugar

1 Cup coarsely chopped pecan meats

• Melt butter in skillet. Stir in sugar. Add pecan meats.
• Cook over moderate heat, stirring constantly, until sugar mixture begins to turn golden brown (about 3 minutes.)
• Remove from heat, turn out onto piece of foil.
• Cool. Crumble into small pieces.
• Makes 1 ½ cups.

Husband John’s favorite:

RUM BALLS

Fern Pfizer-Aunt of Natalie Hartwig

2 ½ Cups finely crushed vanilla wafers

2 TBS + 1 tsp cocoa

1 Cup confectioner’s sugar

1 Cup finely chopped walnuts (or walnuts and shredded coconut)

3 TBS corn syrup

¼ Cup bourbon (or rum)

Additional confectioner’s sugar

• Mix together: crumbs, cocoa, 1 cup sugar, and nuts
• Add corn syrup and bourbon or rum, mix well.
• Form into 1” balls, then roll in additional sugar.
• Store in covered container at least 2 days to ripen.
• Makes 3 ½ dozen

Tree of Promise Devotions

Natalie Hartwig