Mary E. Adams: They Saw His Star in the East

"We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." Matthew 2:2 (NIV)

The wise men would never have seen that particular star unless they had been watching the night sky.

One of the first things I see after I wake up is the view in my window that faces east here in my bedroom. Lying in my bed, I can see the sun rise or watch a full moon snake its way across the dark sky. Occasionally I am especially treated when the northern lights decide to put on a display, or watch a zillion stars dancing around the Big Dipper.

Years ago we lived in Fairbanks, Alaska, north of the arctic circle. One New Year’s eve, just as we stepped outside to leave a church service we attended in a small village called North Pole, the northern lights were so brilliantly awesome that night. Looking upward, (even though the temperature was well below zero), nobody seemed to mind standing there in the cold looking at that night sky. We were transfixed by the sight of those brilliant yellow, green and red lights dancing up and down across the heavens, even streaking downward to almost touch my hands--- a sight emblazioned in my memory ever since it happened.

I also recall that there was an old Eskimo woman who sometimes attended that church. She lived alone by herself in a small cabin, chopped her own firewood, cooked her own meals, and washed her own clothes. She told me that every morning she would first go to the east window in her kitchen to look out to see “if Jesus had returned”.

Simplistic, and perhaps extreme to most of us. But now that I am alone and 80 myself, what she said makes more sense to me every day I am still alive.

Perhaps a relative or a friend might check on her welfare, take her shopping, or give her a ride to church. Nowadays there are government programs to help do those kind of things, yet as good and needful as they are, there is an element missing in all of that, that can never fill the place of “caring and loving” friends and family. 

I have a friend called Anita. She and I met years ago when our husbands were still alive, went fishing together and had a grand time roaming around our beautiful Alaska. We call each other at least once a week, sometimes enjoy a lunch together at i Hop and share conversation over a cup of coffee. Both of us are the same age and share our spiritual thoughts, memories and dreams.

But one thing that runs through our minds is the same for both of us. We might try to imagine what life was like for that old Eskimo woman, living by herself in one of earth’s coldest places, knowing she would soon die, probably alone. 

For when our bodies can no longer lift the ax to chop our firewood, when we don’t hear so well or see things in focus like we used to do, we wonder. When our friends have passed on to their reward or the ones still around sometimes can’t remember, we wonder. And when a younger generation has never heard, nor even care to hear what we experienced back when...

We wonder.... isn’t it time?

That daily question can keep us old folks a bit apprehensive.

But now that we once again are hearing the Christmas story, a nugget came along just as I was writing this: The answer to that is something this troubled, fearful generation needs to learn about; for it is the same for all of us, at any age, anywhere, included myself, even just as it was for those wise men 2,000 years ago who looked eastward:

She focused on His coming, rather than on her leaving.

Note from Sherry: When I read this article several months ago, Mary's last sentence touched me and has stayed with me. We can apply it to so many situations in our lives.

• Focus on His coming, not on our fears.
• Focus on His coming, not on our sorrows.
• Focus on His coming, not on our circumstances.
• Even our times of joy can be enriched if we focus on His coming.

Focus on Him!

Mary E. Adams lives in Wasilla, Alaska. Over half of her 70-year old life has been spent in Christian ministry around the world. She has authored several books and began using the internet to chronicle her insights and revelations from the Holy Spirit. Many people have been encouraged, revived, and inspired by them. Alaska is called "The Great Land", and great it is! Towering mountains surround her home, and Cook Inlet welcomes visitors to its shores. It is in this idyllic place that Mary became "born again" and filled with the Spirit of God. This experience changed her life forever.

Her husband Bob passed away in 1989, and after living in Alaska and raising a family, she decided to enter missions work in various countries, but mainly concentrating on India and SE Asia.

These writings came about after she was diagnosed with cancer in 2000 and underwent various surgeries. They chronicle her thoughts during physical and spiritual battles that she shares with those who might also be afflicted, but also adds humorous everyday insights the Holy Spirit gives her.

Contact Mary at meamin@mtaonline.net
To be blessed by more of her writings, go to her website: www.maryeadams.com

Got Any Questions?

 I have a small nativity set collection - 40 at last count. Over next few blogs, I'll post pictures of some of my favs. In this one, given to me by my closest friend, each figure is cut out of a different type of wood.

God's Son, born in a stable, heralded by angels, visited by kings.

We all know the story.

...there was no room for them at the inn... Luke 2:7

...And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby... Luke 2:8

...We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him... Matthew 2:2

And one more.
...When the time had fully come… Galatians 4:4

God chose the exact time to send His Son. Every circumstance of Jesus’ birth was perfect. Every minute detail was planned.

Being a curious person, I began to ask -

Why did God choose Jesus' parents from Nazareth and not from Bethlehem?

Couldn't the Lord of the Universe provide a room at the inn?

Why shepherds? Were they the only ones who noticed the angels?

Why a star? Why 3 Kings?

Over the next few posts I'm going to poke around for answers to my questions.

Read these beloved passages - anything strike you as interesting? Maybe you can answer some of my questions. ;>)

Inquiring minds want to know...


     So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 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 room for them in the inn.
     And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ 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, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
     When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. Luke 2:4-20


     After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."
     When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written: " 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.' "
     Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."
     After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 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 and of incense and of myrrh.
     And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. Matthew 2:1-12

Never tire of the miracle!