A charming Christmas carol and personal favorite of mine begins with that very question:

Do you see what I see?

Said the night wind to the little lamb,
Do you see what I see?
Way up in the sky little lamb,
Do you see what I see?
A star, a star,
Dancing in the night,
With a tail as big as a kite
With a tail as big as a kite.

Often our most precious gifts begin with a look. We look up at the sunrise first thing in the morning waiting to unwrap the gift of a new day that God has given us. We look over at a classmate in high school and sparks fly – the beginnings of a lifelong love. Kids look under the tree with eager eyes full of expectation. We look down at that tiny baby just seconds old, and our lives are changed forever by the best gift that we ever got. We look inward and see our sin and pain and need, and that is the beginning of a lifelong journey with Jesus – the best gift ever given.

Are we looking? Are we taking time to look around, to see those who are hurting? Those in need? Are we seeing the desperation of souls that are empty and lonely because they don’t know Jesus? Are we taking time to look?

Are we listening, too? This time of year the songs proclaim God’s glory and perfect gift. The bells and harps, guitars and orchestras, and the voices – lone and clear are full choir and rich and harmonic. What joy to listen! God uses these sounds to soften our hearts and prick our spirits. Are we listening for God to speak to us? He may be whispering, “Listen to the lonely. Listen to the wounded. Listen to the angry and betrayed. Be my heart to them.”

Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy,
Do you hear what I hear?
Ringing through the sky shepherd boy,
Do you hear what I hear?
A song, a song,
High above the trees,
With a voice as big as the sea
With a voice as big as the sea.

Are we seeking to know what the shepherds in Bethlehem knew? The Christ child, the King, Immanuel had been born. A tiny babe who deserves all our gifts of worship and praise. Do we seek Hi through His Word? Are we wise women seeking to know Him and understand His ways and His purposes in our life? Let us bring Him our gift – our only gift worth giving the Baby King, our heart.

Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king,
Do you know what I know?
In your palace warm mighty king,
Do you know what I know?
A child, a child,
Shivers in the cold,
Let us bring him silver and gold,
Let us bring him silver and gold.

Listen! Proclaim! Celebrate! The Christ child is the goodness and the light and the hope that our world seeks! Make Him Known! Declare His Greatness! Share the Good News! Enjoy this season to the fullest! Enjoy Our Savior to the fullest! He came to give us life – life abundant! (John 10:10)

Said the king to the people everywhere,
Listen to what I say!
Pray for peace people everywhere.
Listen to what I say!
The child, the child,
Sleeping in the night,
He will bring us goodness and light
He will bring us goodness and light!

This Christmas season may you look and see. Listen and hear. Seek Him and know Him. Proclaim and celebrate the goodness and light He alone can bring!