from Beliefnet.com:
Advent Prayer, Day 17: Offering Him Our Best GiftsTuesday December 15, 2009
Categories: Advent, Advent Prayer, Bible, Jesus, Prayer
By Claudia Mair Burney
Tuesday, the third week of Advent
"A star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel." Numbers 24:17 (2).
"On entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh." Matthew 2:11
The wise men followed a star. When I read this narrative I'm following the wise men, but end up finding a star. But do I see him as clearly as these learned men did? What do the gifts I offer the Lord say about my worship? Do I give him reverence and honor, rather than gold, gifts of the soul fit for a king. Do I offer him my most fervent, sincere prayers, rather than frankincense, knowing he is a priest who ever lives to intercede for me? And what about the myrrh? What a strange gift it was from the Magi. Myrrh was bitter, used for its medicinal properties. But it had another use: to embalm the dead. What can I offer Christ knowing he will die for my sins? The only thing I have that's acceptable is my grateful heart, rejoicing in his saving grace.
Jesus my starlight,
I must follow you. Help me to worship you, as befitting to one so magnificent. You are my king. Help me to yield to you, and obey your every command. You are my salvation. The Magi offered you gold, frankincense and myrrh, but eventually they left you. Give me so much love that I stay before you always, continuing to adore you. You humbled yourself to receive a body like the one my soul resides in. Help me to offer you spiritual gifts more sublime than any earthly things. I want to thank you for all you do.
"Come, Lord Jesus."
Read more: http://blog.beliefnet.com/prayerplainandsimple/2009/12/advent-prayer-day-17-offering-him-our-best-gifts.html#ixzz189SHC7CY
Day Seventeen:
Foods and Feasts
Bring us some figgy pudding
Bring us some figgy pudding
Bring us some figgy pudding
Bring some right here!
There may be a reason to feel good about the calories you'll consume this season: most traditional Christmas treats have a religious story behind them. Explore food-faith connections and pick up tips for your own holiday meals.
The Candy Cane Controversy
Is the candy cane just a holiday treat--or is there a spiritual meaning to its shape and stripes?
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When--and how--did the candy cane originate? Legends abound about the popular treat, and many of the explanations involve religious themes. Some claim that in 1670, a choirmaster created the candy as a way to keep children quiet during Christmas services. A less plausible tale holds that the canes were a secret means of identification for persecuted European Christians.
Another story describes an Indiana candymaker who took a stick of white candy and bent it to form a hook. Turned one way, the cane represented "J" for "Jesus"; turned the other way, it represented a shepherd's staff, to remind the world that Jesus was the "shepherd of lost sheep." The legend holds that a thick red stripe was added to represent Jesus' blood while three thinner stripes represented lash wounds. The canes' peppermint flavor recalls the taste of hyssop, a leafy plant used for sacrificial ceremonies by ancient Hebrews and mentioned in the gospels' Passion narrative.
Though we'll probably never know the whole truth about candy canes, the links below delve more deeply into the debate.
Candy Cane Legend
Was it really invented by a candymaker in Indiana? Read about the meanings behind the shape, colors, and flavor of the Christmastime treat.
Bah Humbug
The candy cane legend is a myth, writes Barbara "the Cane Mutiny" Mikkelson on snopes.com.
Blessing of Candy Canes
"May these sweets, these candy canes, be a sign of Advent joy for us." Whether hung from a pine tree or put in a stocking, this blessing will help you remember the candy's symbolic meaning.
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