Celebrating the Real Christmas Story 12/13

Today, I am celebrating the Real Christmas Story.  I am remembering that when Mary visited Elizabeth, baby John the Baptist jumped in Elizabeth's womb, confirming that Mary was carrying the Christ Child.  I am celebrating that even babies in utero recognize the presence of their creator.  I am celebrating that Mary and Elizabeth showed a great depth of spiritual understanding and obedience.  I am praying that I will be as obedient.

^{Luke 1:35} The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. ³⁶ What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. ³⁷ For nothing is impossible with God.^[f]”

³⁸ Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.

³⁹ A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the town ⁴⁰ where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹ At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

⁴² Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, “God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. ⁴³ Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me? ⁴⁴ When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. ⁴⁵ You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.”

Celebrating the Real Christmas Story 12/12

I am still celebrating the Real Christmas Story.  Today, I am celebrating the Angel Gabriel's visit to Mary.  I am celebrating the wonder of the Angel bring a message to a earthling - a human.  I am also celebrating Mary's response.  Mary was a young girl - probably 14 to 17.  Sometimes, I think that we don't give youth the credit they deserve. Mary embraced this message and indicated her willingness to follow.
How will you respond to God's message to you today?  May we respond like Mary:  I am the Lord's Servant.

^{Luke 1:26} In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, ²⁷ to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. ²⁸ Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!^[d]”

²⁹ Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. ³⁰ “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! ³¹ You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. ³² He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. ³³ And he will reign over Israel^[e] forever; his Kingdom will never end!”
³⁴ Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”
³⁵ The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. ³⁶ What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. ³⁷ For nothing is impossible with God.^[f]”
³⁸ Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.  

Celebrating the Real Christmas Story 12/10

Today, I am celebrating the Real Christmas Story. I am celebrating that the angels always start with: Do not be Afraid! There is something truly scary about the presence of God. Ultimately, the presence of God is something that changes you and that is scary. It is so scary, I am crying as I write this. Think about Zecharias – his contact with God Almighty – via Gabriel, left him speechless. ... Mary’s contact left her pregnant. And the Shepherds ran thru the streets of Bethlehem to find the new Baby King.
 

My Friend, what about you? How will your contact with the Almighty this Christmas leave you changed? Speechless? Pregnant? Running?

Do not Be Afraid! Let the God of the Christmas Story change you!

Celebrating the Real Christmas Story 12/9

Today, I am celebrating the Real Christmas Story. Today, I am remembering Gabriel, the messenger angel. I am remembering that Gabriel stood both in the presence of God and appeared to both Zecharias and Mary.
May I stand in the presence of God and before people and bring the them the message of HOPE, PEACE and LOVE that they so long for.
Luke 1:19 Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news! 20 But now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time.”

Celebrating the Real Christmas Story 12/8

Today, I am celebrating the Real Christmas story. I am remembering the silence of Zecharias. I am wondering how Elizabeth felt when Zecharias got home that night. I wonder if it was a normal evening, except that Zecharias could not grunt and say “Thanks for dinner. It was good.” I wonder if he spent the evening in front of the tv, like always or whether he had a burning desire to say the things he had been putting off. Initially, when I read this, I figured that Elizabeth and Zecharias would write notes to each other in the dust. But then, I remember that probably, as a woman, Elizabeth would not have been educated, so she probably couldn’t read or write. The baby, John the Baptist was conceived after Zecharias was struck silent, so I figure he was silent for 9+ months. What would you say today if you knew you were going to not be able to speak for 9+ months? What about the other way around: What would you learn from others if you couldn’t speak? Does anyone remember the movie “What the Deaf Man Heard”? Will you Celebrate the Real Christmas Story by speaking up or being silent?    

Luke1:21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah to come out of the sanctuary, wondering why he was taking so long. 22 When he finally did come out, he couldn’t speak to them. Then they realized from his gestures and his silence that he must have seen a vision in the sanctuary.

Celebrating the Real Christmas Story - 12/7

Today, I am celebrating the Real Christmas Story. I am celebrating Zecharias, a priest and servant, who was called to a task, which he did. When the angel Gabriel appear to him to let him know that his 40+ year old prayers were going to be answered, Zecharias was a little shocked and he doubted. I'm thinking what was I praying for 20 years ago? 10 years ago? Do I still want that? Is there anything I'm still praying for after 40 years?

And for all of you, who think you are beyond all this , I hope you get that pony in your stocking that you prayed for 40 years ago. Or puppy. Elizabeth and Zecharias are getting a baby.

Luke 1:8 One day Zechariah was serving God in the Temple, for his order was on duty that week. 9 As was the custom of the priests, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. 10 While the incense was being burned, a great crowd stood outside, praying.
11 While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar. 12 Zechariah was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw him. 13 But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John. 14 You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth.[b] 16 And he will turn many Israelites to the Lord their God. 17 He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children,[c] and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.”
18 Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.”

Celebrating the Real Christmas Story

I have been posting each day on Facebook some aspect of Celebrating the Real Christmas Story.  This year, as in many years, there is not $ to give the gifts to my daughters that I would like to.  The idea of saying "I know you want a tablet, here's a coloring book and crayons" just ain't working for me!  The idea of a Christmas Tree seems empty.  I never dreamed that someone - i.e., me, who is so in love with the Real Christmas Story and the Real meaning of Christmas, could find this season so empty.  So I decided I would celebrate the REAL Christmas story - Like an advent calendar - each day, unfolded a little bit, like a much anticipated Christmas package.  I started on 12/6 - so a little late - but I am celebrating the Christmas Story!  (I'm on Facebook - Dottie Cooper Hinesley - if you would like to follow there!)

12/6 Today, I am celebrating the real Christmas Story. I am celebrating, that God answers prayer, sometimes, waaaaay after we pray and long after we think He has said "No" because waiting is all over and the opportunity is way gone. Elizabeth & Zechariah conceived a baby, probably long years after they prayed, after they were old, probably years after they had say good bye to the dream of having a family.

Luke 1:6 Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord’s commandments and regulations. 7 They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to conceive, and they were both very old.

Today, I'm going to keep praying, keep believing, keep hoping because of the Real Christmas Story, because of God's faithfulness to Elizabeth & Zechariah.