Matthew 2:10

"[The Magi] could hardly contain themselves: They were in the right place! They had arrived at the right time! They entered the house and saw the child..."

"[After learning that the king of the Jews was to be born in Bethlehem,] Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men, and he learned from them..."

Let's imitate the magi in 2015 The wise men came seeking Jesus, to worship him and bring him gifts. Modern society has turned this event. Instead of giving gifts to Jesus, we give them to one another. Instead of looking for a king to worship, we focus our attention on one another.

What have you come to offer Jesus? The wise men brought gifts to Jesus that reflect their respect, time, thoughtfulness, and generosity -- but what kind of gifts do we give to Jesus?

Have you seen His star? Patrick Odum reflects on a Matthews who is a scientist who determined the star when Jesus was born and reminds us that it is not the star, but the one to whom it pointed, that is important.

Is this really the Christmas star? Patrick Odum talks about the Christmas star and how it may have been identified, but how that doesn't nearly as much as the One who was born being the One who made the stars.

"Dear Friend, Can you remember your Christmas gifts from last year? ... five years ago? ... ten years ago? You probably don't remember most of your..."

"Dear Precious Follower, David spoke the truth and We — Father, Son, and Spirit — wanted it emphasized, so you will find it included twice..."

With the birth of Jesus, we enter a gritty world that we know is our own. Phil Ware continues his series called When Spirit Becomes Flesh and he focuses on the grit and real world feel of the birth stories and also the joy that comes from Jesus' birth.

"Dear Friend of God, Today, I AM asking you to do something important. I know you are busy with all your Christmas plans, but there is one important....."

Come on! The New Year is coming, don't we need to move on and get ready for it! Phil Ware and James Nored introduce Heartlight.org readers to the grit of grace and the coming video series called, "My Story in God's Story."

"Dear Beloved, The story of My first two years speaks of vulnerability. I was born to a young woman far from home and without friends and family with...."

What gift at Christmas can get you in the most trouble? Rick Brown reminds us about dangerous Christmas gifts for kids and the most dangerous Christmas gift of all, Jesus.

When God chose to come into our world through a child, he chose a family line that was every bit as messed up as our world. Phil Ware is using December to remind us how to welcome Jesus during this special time and what Jesus' coming means for each of us.

12 days of Christmas are not about calling birds and lords a leaping, but about an extended celebration of Christmas. Phillip Morrison reminds us that the Magi, the Wise Men, came later on after Jesus was older; but rather than this putting a damper on our Christmas, we need to use this truth to extend our Christmas past the first of the year.

Am I more like the wise men who passionately sought to find Jesus or the religious leaders who chose their traditions, positions, and power over Jesus? Phil Ware reminds us that in the familiar story of the wise men is a challenging and life-changing question we must all answer with our choices and with our lives.

What difference does one twinkling star really make? Phil Ware reflects upon the star the Magi saw and puts it in its context of astrologers from Iran who recognized Jesus as King of the Jews and the religious leaders among the Jews who tried to kill him.