J. M. Neale: Happy Birthday

On coming to the house, they saw the child with His mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Matthew 2:11

When you read the Latin Christus na­tus ho­die it means “today Christ is born” or “today the Savior has appeared” and when you read the Latin Ex Ma­ria vir­gi­ne it means “from the Virgin Mary.”

Christ was born on Christ­mas Day,
Wreathe the hol­ly, twine the bay;
Christus na­tus ho­die
The Babe, the Son,
The Ho­ly One of Ma­ry.

He is born to set us free,
He is born our Lord to be,
Ex Ma­ria vir­gi­ne:
The God, the Lord,
By all adored for­ev­er.

Let the bright red ber­ries glow
Everywhere in good­ly show;
Christus na­tus ho­die:
The Babe, the Son,
The Ho­ly One of Ma­ry.

Christian men, re­joice and sing;
‘Tis the birth­day of a king,
Ex Ma­ria vir­gi­ne:
The God, the Lord,
By all ad­ored for­ev­er.

Night of sad­ness, morn of glad­ness
Evermore, ev­er, ev­er:
After ma­ny trou­bles sore,
Morn of glad­ness ev­er­more and ev­er­more.

Midnight scarce­ly passed and ov­er,
Drawing to this ho­ly morn,
Very ear­ly, very ear­ly
Christ was born.

Sing out with bliss, His name is this;
Emmanuel:
As was fore­told in days of old
By Ga­bri­el.

Midnight scarce­ly passed and ov­er,
Drawing to this ho­ly morn,
Very ear­ly, very ear­ly,
Christ was born.

“Resonet in laudibus” (“Let the voice of praise resound”) translated from 14th Century German into English by J.M. Neale as “Christ was born on Christmas Day”. This marks #6 of the 8 oldest Christmas carols.

This ancient carol brings into view the tradition of decorating “in goodly show” with a wreath and red berries. The wreath signified the unending love and life found in Jesus Christ. And the red, of course, points to His blood which washes us from our sins.

As you approach the time of giving gifts like Jesus received gifts on that first Christmas, as people say “Merry Christmas” to you, perhaps reply “Happy Birthday” like Frosty the Snowman to get their attention (click here to see it).

As this ancient song proclaims, “Christmas is the birthday of a King.” And not just any king. “the God, the Lord, who is to be adored forever.” Don’t forget to acknowledge Christmas as the birthday of Jesus!

And you will never hear me say “Merry Christmas” as “merry” as the Greek word in texts like Luke 12:19-20 associates with selfish and licentious living. I say Happy or Blessed Christmas, using the word that appears in the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:12).

Join me Happy Birthday Jesus! Happy Christmas to all.

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests.” Luke 2:11-14

Good Christian men, rejoice
With heart, and soul, and voice;
Give ye heed to what we say:
News! News!
Jesus Christ was born to-day:
Ox and ass before Him bow,
And He is in the manger now.
Christ is born today! Christ is born today.

In dulci jublio meaning “In sweet rejoicing” (A.D. 1328) but known in modern times as Good Christian Men, Rejoice, translated by J.M. Neale.

This Christmas my attention has gone repeatedly to the manger. The angel identifies the manger as a sign. Then this ancient hymn announces pointedly, “He is in the manger now!”

Remember that a manger is a feeding trough. This illustrates the heart of the big news!

All in Christ have reason to rejoice with heart and soul and voice. Generosity takes shape as spreading this news. The source of life for us is not the food we eat but the savior we meet at the manger.

Tell everyone. Christ is born today. It’s the most generous thing you can do.

The vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah son of Amoz saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. “Hear me, you heavens! Listen, earth! For the Lord has spoken: “I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me. The ox knows its master, the donkey its owner’s manger, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.” Isaiah 1:1-3

Between the ox and the grey donkey
sleeps, sleeps, sleeps the little son.

Refrain:
A thousand divine angels, a thousand seraphim
fly around this great God of love.

Between the two arms of Mary
Sleeps, sleeps, sleeps the fruit of life.
Refrain

Between the roses and the lilies,
Sleeps, sleeps, sleeps the little son.
Refrain

Amidst the gentle shepherds
Sleeps, sleeps Jesus who smiles.
Refrain

On this beautiful, so solemn day
Sleeps, sleeps, sleeps Emmanuel.

Entre le bœuf et l’âne gris or Between the Ox and the Grey Donkey translated and arranged in modern times by Terry Hurrell. This hymn dates to somewhere between the 13th and 16th centuries in France.

What struck me related to generosity today is the prophecy.

We label Isaiah as a major prophet for the magnitude of his writing and proclamations to the people of God about the things to come. Notice at the start of his writing he sets his announcement in history linking it to the reign of kings.

And then He says plainly that He reared his people but they did not obey Him. So he points what will happen between the ox and the donkey. He makes a reference to the nativity.

And today’s Hynm simply tells us what happened there. It was not a fancy setting, though the hosts of angels celebrate. That got me thinking even more.

Today, you and I get to minister as agents of Emmanuel. God’s Word tells us that there is more joy in heaven when we lead people to faith in Jesus or minister effectively as His servants.

So what’s my point? Jesus as the arrival of Jesus was not glamorous but good, between the ox and donkey, our generous service is most often not glamorous but good. And the angels celebrate what we do.

So as you approach the celebration of Christmas, keep living, giving, serving, and loving generously and often, not glamorously, and know that God sees and heaven celebrates.

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. Luke 2:6-7

1 Jesus, our brother, kind and good,
was humbly born in a stable rude,
and the friendly beasts around him stood;
Jesus, our brother, kind and good.

2 “I,” said the donkey, shaggy and brown,
“I carried his mother uphill and down;
I carried his mother to Bethlehem town.
I,” said the donkey, shaggy and brown.

3 “I,” said the cow, all white and red,
“I gave him my manger for his bed,
I gave him my hay to pillow his head.
I,” said the, cow all white and red.

4 “I,” said the sheep with curly horn,
“I gave him my wool for his blanket warm;
he wore my coat on Christmas morn.
I,” said the sheep with curly horn.

5 “I,” said the dove from the rafters high,
“I cooed him to sleep that he should not cry;
we cooed him to sleep, my mate and I.
I,” said the dove from the rafters high.

6 Thus every beast by some good spell,
in the stable dark was glad to tell
how they gave their gift to Emmanuel;
the gift they gave Emmanuel.

Robert David penned the modern English words to “The Friendly Beasts” dated to 12th century in France and sung to the tune of Orientis Partibus.

This song has the distinction of the third oldest Christmas carol. It literally brings the ancient nativity scenes to life. It illustrates how each “friendly beast” gave a gift to Christ from what they had. The animals teach us to give God what we have.

What do you we have? Is it time to take a fresh inventory? From there, what if you gave what you have to Jesus this Christmas? What would that look like? When we give what we have we never end up empty, but rather enriched.

On coming to the house, they saw the child with His mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Matthew 2:11

This is attested as the second oldest Christmas hymn available to us. It comes from the 4th century. It’s seven stanzas and rich in theology. All I can do in response is worship.

Of the Father’s Love Begotten

1. Of the Father’s love begotten, Ere the worlds began to be,
He is Alpha and Omega, He the Source, the ending He,
Of the things that are, that have been, And that future years shall see,
Evermore and evermore.

2. At His word the worlds were framed; He commanded, it was done:
Heav’n and earth and depths of ocean, In their threefold order one;
All that grows beneath the shining, Of the moon and burning sun—
[Evermore and evermore.]

3. He was found in human fashion, Death and sorrow here to know,
That the race of Adam’s children, Doomed by law to endless woe,
May not henceforth die and perish in the dreadful gulf below—
[Evermore and evermore.]

4. O that birth forever blessèd, When the virgin, full of grace,
By the Holy Ghost conceiving, Bore the Savior of our race,
And the Babe, the world’s Redeemer, First revealed His sacred face—
[Evermore and evermore.]

5. This is He whom seers in old time, Chanted of with one accord,
Whom the voices of the prophets. Promised in their faithful word;
Now He shines, the long-expected; Let creation praise its Lord—
[Evermore and evermore.]

6. O ye heights of Heav’n adore Him! Angel hosts His praises sing!
All dominions bow before Him, And exalt our God and King.
Let no tongue on Earth be silent, Every voice in concert ring—
[Evermore and evermore.]

7. Christ! to thee with God the Father, And O Holy Ghost, to thee,
Hymn and chant and high thanksgiving, And unwearied praises be,
Honor, glory, and dominion, And eternal victory—
[Evermore and evermore.]

Aurelius Prudentius Clemens (348-413) in Corde natus ex Parentis translated to English as Of the Father’s Love Begotten by J. M. Neale and H. W. Baker.

I shot the new header photo while walking my son’s dogs on Sunday morning. While I froze because I did not have a stocking cap or gloves, I did worship the Lord as the sun rose. And I snapped this photo. Christmas is about worship.

Worship with the Wise men. Worship the One who created all things. Worship the One about whom the angels sang. Worship the One about whom the prophets foretold. Worship the One born of a virgin. Worship the One who redeemed us from woe.

And bring Him gifts. Make your generosity this Christmas bigger and better than ever and make it reflect your worship and praise for all Christ represents to you and to all humanity. What will you bring to Jesus this Christmas in a posture of worship?

“This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:12

We trace the first observance to Christmas back to A.D. 354 and this as the earliest Christmas carol. As we approach Christmas, I will research how the church observed it in its earliest days.

Jesus Refulsit Omnium

Jesus refulsit omnium, Pius redemptor gentium
Totum genus fidelium, Laudes celebret dramatum

Quem stella natum fulgida, Monstrat micans per authera
Magosque duxit praevia, Ipsius ad cunabula

Illi cadentes parvulum, Pannis adorant obsitum
Verum fatentur ut Deum, Munus ferendo mysticum.

Here’s the English translation.

Jesus, Light of All the Nations

Jesus, devoted redeemer of all nations, has shone forth,
Let the whole family of the faithful celebrate the stories

The shining star, gleaming in the heavens, makes Him known at His
birth and, going before, has led the Magi to His cradle

Falling down, they adore the tiny baby hidden in rags,
as they bear witness to the true God by bringing a mystical gift.’

Hillary of Poitiers (c. 310-357) in Jesus Refulsit Omnium or Jesus, Light of All the Nations, English translation by Kevin Hawthorne, PhD.

Today we see three words attached to Jesus. He is our Redeemer. He is a Light to all the nations. And He takes shape as a mystical Gift. He would save us from our sins (Redeemer) and show us how to live (Light).

Part of our role in response is the “celebrate the stories.” Be sure to read the Christmas story to children or grandchildren, or friends and neighbors so the whole world knows.

And Jesus also takes shape as something everyone needs and no one deserves, namely, a mystical Gift, full of grace, mercy, and truth. Soak in the fact that Jesus is Redeemer, Light, and Gift today.

Consider how you might “bear witness” by sharing Him with someone else this Christmas as part of your generosity.

Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! James 5:7-9

“Endurance, patience and hope are three important themes in this letter. They blend well with the central theme of putting the word into practice. Faith should express itself in concrete action. Society judges Christians not on the faith they profess but on the way they live. For his part, the Lord, who is coming back, will judge us on the works that result from our faith in Jesus Christ. We are not saved by these works, but we will be held accountable for them.

Putting the word into practice requires patience and endurance because we will face many temptations, tests, obstacles and challenges. We must imitate farmers. After having worked hard to get the crop into the soil, they wait patiently for the harvest, which will come at the right time, neither too early nor too late. Just as the farmer waits for the day of harvest or of reward, so we who serve the Lord must wait patiently for his return. Patience will help us to avoid both the feverish speculation about the date of his return that characterizes some groups and the lack of concern shown by those with divided hearts who say that the Lord will never return.”

Solomon Andria (Madagascar) in “James” in Africa Bible Commentary, Tokunboh Adeyemo, General Editor (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006).

This post seems as a fitting way to end my exploration through James from an African perspective. Also, I have safely arrived at home, so I will seek the Lord as to what to study next.

We could sum up our look at James by saying that our faith must produce concrete action and we must exhibit patience. I actually said this to the workers I was mentoring over the last two weeks.

I told them you need infinite patience because the more seeds you plant in hearts the more patience you need.

We must not miss the implications and importance of concrete action for our witness. The world is watching. Our lives must demonstrate works that back the faith we profess.

God will serve as the ultimate judge. I pray this exploration has motivated you to action.

You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you. James 5:5-6

“The rich will face judgment on the last day, but some even face judgment now as a result of their overeating and drinking. In our day, we talk of the illnesses of the rich. Their anxieties and overindulgence lead to stress and shorten their lives. All the thought they have put into their investments will prove useless as they are separated from them by death.”

Solomon Andria (Madagascar) in “James” in Africa Bible Commentary, Tokunboh Adeyemo, General Editor (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006).

Today is my birthday. I am so excited to spend it on airplanes. Why? I love riding on airplanes. It’s one of my secret places to spend time with God. I have three long flights today. Plenty of time for sleep and solitude.

As a bonus, I depart at 12:05am Uganda time, and fly back in time via Brussels, Washington D.C., and Denver, so I get to live 13 December 2025 for 34 instead of 24 hours. What a blessing!

En route, I will take rest. And, when awake I will enjoy solitude with God for renewal, writing, and whatever. I say whatever because God often surprises me and says, I want you to write a sermon or draft a devotional.

He often prods me to do things that were not on my proverbial radar. Think of it as planned spontaneity. It’s time blocked for whatever God desires. How does this relate to indulgence and investments.

The rich struggle often because their wealth enables them to have whatever they desire. Our desires destroy us in indulgence. From there, the wealth or investments captivate our attention. We want preserve our standard of living.

Randy Alcorn has reminded us that God blesses us not to preserve or grow our standard of living but our standard of giving. Any other perspective leads to indulgence, illnesses (physical dysfunctions that match the spiritual dysfunction at play), and investments (preoccupation with earthly wealth – think: whatever you hold onto gets a hold onto you – that is only secure when stored up in heaven).

Anyway, I want nothing more for my birthday but a peaceful day on airplanes, love and greetings from family and friends around the world, and a warm welcome tonight at home with Jenni and Grace. I look forward to the messages.

And I pray for a year of good health to serve, free of the shackles of indulgence, illness, and investments.

Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. James 5:1-4

“Society has always been characterized by the gulf between the majority who are poor and the handful who are rich. The latter are the powerful ones. They set themselves up above the law. They make demands that are harmful to the interests of the poor. They insult poor people, drag them into court, and slander the noble name of the Lord. James does not call such people ‘brothers’ because they are not part of the family, even if they attend church. But God will judge them on that day when everyone will appear before the true judge to account for their behavior.

That day will be one of weeping and misery for the rich without God. The riches they relied on will evaporate – and will even be used as evidence against them. The wealth the rich have hoarded should have been used to pay fair wages to their employees. This injustice is yet another major addition to the catalogue of wrongs they have committed. But there is irony in the fact that those same rich people who dragged others before courts will themselves be judged in court by the Lord Almighty, or ‘the Lord of Hosts’ (that is, armies), who defends His people. The poor will be the ones to lay the charge, and the rich will be powerless before this judge, who cannot be manipulated or bribed.”

Solomon Andria (Madagascar) in “James” in Africa Bible Commentary, Tokunboh Adeyemo, General Editor (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006).

Today marks my last full day of a long trip. I praise God for the way He has worked in the hearts of those I have had the privilege of serving from all across Africa over a week in Cameroon and a week in Uganda.

As I get to the final chapter of James and study it with Solomon Andria, an African commentator, two thoughts stood out to me today worth exploring more deeply. They relate to the powerless and the powerful.

When the rich handle God’s money rightly, they demonstrate justice and generosity using their power to serve the powerless. They do not aim to preserve their place of power. God sees and celebrates as they care for the poor who cry out (see Job 29:12).

When the rich follow worldly patterns, they participate in oppression and manipulation, and often use bribes or other favors to get or preserve and grow their power. Ironically, in the end, these people will be the powerless ones.

This brings into view the paradox of power related to generosity. Only those who give away their power keep it. And those who try to preserve their power lose it. In the last day with whom will you rank, the powerless or the powerful?

How you live, give, serve, and love will shape your eternal destiny! I see this more vividly when I spend two weeks in Africa. Lord have mercy and move the powerful to give away their power and entrust themselves to you through generous living. Amen.

Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them. James 4:13-17

“James now gives a specific example of the pride he condemns. Addressing a businessman or businesswoman who makes plans without any thought of God, he says something like this: ‘You drive yourself hard to succeed in business, but without God. You are very sure of yourself. And yet you are like a mist that appears and disappears’. What is the good of making long-term plans when you don’t even know what will happen tomorrow? Earlier, he had compared riches to a flower. The rich person who is counting on his riches and the businessperson without God are alike. Both are guilty of the sin of self-sufficiency, of thinking they can succeed on their own. Both will come up short when they confront the brevity of life.”

Solomon Andria (Madagascar) in “James” in Africa Bible Commentary, Tokunboh Adeyemo, General Editor (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006).

Today in Uganda we trained 33 workers from 18 countries across Africa through Stations of Generosity. Each one plans to replicate the training to spread the message of biblical generosity in their country.

We also have two partner organizations – As One Uganda and Partners Worldwide – who expressed gratitude for the privilege of getting trained. They too plan to spread the trainings to all those they serve.

But I told them all this Scripture. And I said, “Don’t focus on all the people you think you want to train. They are not here. Focus on what God wants to teach you today, right now. Don’t make any plans, just ask God to teach you.”

This mirrors today’s biblical text and it touched them deeply. At the end I asked them to pray and ask God who He wants them to share it with. And I asked them if the answer to their prayer was different from what they thought at the start.

Guess what? Everyone raised their hand. People testified that after just experiencing the training without any plans or assumptions about the future, God put a bigger vision or a different one on their heart.

Notice the opposite of this. We can take posture of self-sufficiency and map big plans and act like we know everything. We actually commit the sin of self-sufficiency when we do this. I have done it many times. Perhaps you can relate?

Let’s not make this mistake. We fail because God blesses us and we often say, “I’ll take if from here, Lord.” And we take charge. Personally, I discern that God wants me to do many new things in 2026. What will they be?

I could map plans. When I do, things often don’t seem to come together. I plan to block some time on the flights home to surrender my life, my future, and my ideas of plans to Him and ask Him to help me discern next steps. Join me.