Today, I am celebrating the Real Christmas Story. I am celebrating that God always makes a way. I am celebrating that God uses the schemes of man to accomplish HIS will. I am celebrating that a census - a need to count people - "register" probably for taxes - got a very pregnant Mary from Nazareth to Bethlehem - to fulfill the prophecy that Jesus be born in Bethlehem.
I pray that God will accomplish HIS will with me.
Luke 2:1 At that time, Augustus Caesar sent an order that all people in the countries under Roman rule must list their names in a register. 2 This was the first registration;[a] it was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to their own towns to be registered.
Friday, December 20, 2013
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Celebrating the Real Christmas Story 12/19
Today, I am celebrating the real Christmas Story. Today, I am celebrating waiting and what waiting does for us. And how we all seem to HATE waiting. Waiting creates anticipation, want and desire. It also develops patience and appreciation for what we are waiting for.
Matthew 1:24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. 25 But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.
I'm waiting. There is much I am waiting for. And it is worth waiting for. What are you waiting for? Isn't the expecting waiting called faith?
Matthew 1:24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. 25 But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.
I'm waiting. There is much I am waiting for. And it is worth waiting for. What are you waiting for? Isn't the expecting waiting called faith?
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Celebrating the real Christmas Story 12/18
Today, I am celebrating the REAL Christmas Story! Today I am celebrating genealogy of Jesus. In Matthew 1, we have Joseph's genealogy, which gave Jesus a legal right to the throne of David. In Luke 3 - which starts with "Jesus was known as the son of Joseph" and then proceeds with the genealogy of Mary, which gives Jesus the biological right to the throne of David. I'm not going to copy and paste the genealogies here, but I am rejoicing because God always covers all His bases PERFECTLY!
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Celebrating the Real Christmas Story 12/17
Today, I am celebrating the real Christmas Story. I am celebrating Mary's response to the privilege of carrying the Christ Child. A beautiful response but amazing considering that the source was probably a girl no older than 17. The insight that "all generations will call me blessed" is profound! I can now see that right does bring blessings - if not now, down the road. I was taught that as a child, but I don't think I could see it at 17.
What will future generations call you? Blessed? Wise? Godly?
What will future generations call you? Blessed? Wise? Godly?
46 Mary responded,
“Oh, how my soul praises the Lord.
47 How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
48 For he took notice of his lowly servant girl,
and from now on all generations will call me blessed.
49 For the Mighty One is holy,
and he has done great things for me.
50 He shows mercy from generation to generation
to all who fear him.
51 His mighty arm has done tremendous things!
He has scattered the proud and haughty ones.
52 He has brought down princes from their thrones
and exalted the humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away with empty hands.
54 He has helped his servant Israel
and remembered to be merciful.
55 For he made this promise to our ancestors,
to Abraham and his children forever.”
47 How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
48 For he took notice of his lowly servant girl,
and from now on all generations will call me blessed.
49 For the Mighty One is holy,
and he has done great things for me.
50 He shows mercy from generation to generation
to all who fear him.
51 His mighty arm has done tremendous things!
He has scattered the proud and haughty ones.
52 He has brought down princes from their thrones
and exalted the humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away with empty hands.
54 He has helped his servant Israel
and remembered to be merciful.
55 For he made this promise to our ancestors,
to Abraham and his children forever.”
Monday, December 16, 2013
Celebrating the Real Christmas Story 12/16
Today, I am still celebrating the Christmas story. Today, I am celebrating that Zecharias regained his ability to speak after at least a 9+ month silence. I remember once I was suppose to be silent for 2 hours at a conference. My goodness - what a challenge! After a long silence, Zecharias is praising God and prophesying the future of his son, John. Zecharias is not bitter, but reveals praises for God and gratitude. May I praise my savior in the same way.
Luke 1:67 Then his father, Zechariah, was filled with the Holy Spirit and gave this prophecy:
68 “Praise the Lord, the God of Israel,
because he has visited and redeemed his people.
69 He has sent us a mighty Savior[g]
from the royal line of his servant David,
70 just as he promised
through his holy prophets long ago.
71 Now we will be saved from our enemies
and from all who hate us.
72 He has been merciful to our ancestors
by remembering his sacred covenant—
73 the covenant he swore with an oath
to our ancestor Abraham.
74 We have been rescued from our enemies
so we can serve God without fear,
75 in holiness and righteousness
for as long as we live.
because he has visited and redeemed his people.
69 He has sent us a mighty Savior[g]
from the royal line of his servant David,
70 just as he promised
through his holy prophets long ago.
71 Now we will be saved from our enemies
and from all who hate us.
72 He has been merciful to our ancestors
by remembering his sacred covenant—
73 the covenant he swore with an oath
to our ancestor Abraham.
74 We have been rescued from our enemies
so we can serve God without fear,
75 in holiness and righteousness
for as long as we live.
76 “And you, my little son,
will be called the prophet of the Most High,
because you will prepare the way for the Lord.
77 You will tell his people how to find salvation
through forgiveness of their sins.
78 Because of God’s tender mercy,
the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us,[h]
79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
and to guide us to the path of peace.”
will be called the prophet of the Most High,
because you will prepare the way for the Lord.
77 You will tell his people how to find salvation
through forgiveness of their sins.
78 Because of God’s tender mercy,
the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us,[h]
79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
and to guide us to the path of peace.”
80 John grew up and became strong in spirit. And he lived in the wilderness until he began his public ministry to Israel.
Sunday, December 15, 2013
Celebrating the Real Christmas Story 12/15
Today, I am celebrating the real Christmas Story. Today, I am celebrating the birth of John the Baptist and the return of speech to his father Zacharias. Somehow, both Elizabeth and Zacharias were on the same page and knew the baby was to be named John. As soon as Zechariah wrote "His Name is John" he was able to speak and he praised God. Talk about seeing the hand of God at a bloody circumcision ceremony. What about you - Where have you seen the hand of God?
I can't begin to tell you how meaningful this has been to me to each day focus on some aspect of the real Christmas Story and to celebrate it by focusing on it and writing about it.
61 “What?” they exclaimed. “There is no one in all your family by that name.” 62 So they used gestures to ask the baby’s father what he wanted to name him. 63 He motioned for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s surprise he wrote, “His name is John.” 64 Instantly Zechariah could speak again, and he began praising God.
65 Awe fell upon the whole neighborhood, and the news of what had happened spread throughout the Judean hills. 66 Everyone who heard about it reflected on these events and asked, “What will this child turn out to be?” For the hand of the Lord was surely upon him in a special way.
I can't begin to tell you how meaningful this has been to me to each day focus on some aspect of the real Christmas Story and to celebrate it by focusing on it and writing about it.
Luke 1:57 When it was time for Elizabeth’s baby to be born, she gave birth to a son. 58 And when her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had been very merciful to her, everyone rejoiced with her.
59 When the baby was eight days old, they all came for the circumcision ceremony. They wanted to name him Zechariah, after his father. 60 But Elizabeth said, “No! His name is John!”61 “What?” they exclaimed. “There is no one in all your family by that name.” 62 So they used gestures to ask the baby’s father what he wanted to name him. 63 He motioned for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s surprise he wrote, “His name is John.” 64 Instantly Zechariah could speak again, and he began praising God.
65 Awe fell upon the whole neighborhood, and the news of what had happened spread throughout the Judean hills. 66 Everyone who heard about it reflected on these events and asked, “What will this child turn out to be?” For the hand of the Lord was surely upon him in a special way.
Saturday, December 14, 2013
Celebrating the Real Christmas Story 12/14
Today, I am celebrating the Real Christmas Story. I am so thankful I have the real Christmas story to celebrate during this season. Today I am celebrating that Joseph was a good man, a man who was obedient to God. I am thankful for good men everywhere and if you are married to a good man, there is much to be thankful for.
Still praying to be obedient to God in all things. How about you?
22 All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet:
Still praying to be obedient to God in all things. How about you?
Matthew1:18 This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph, her fiancé, was a good man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.
20 As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”22 All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet:
23 “Look! The virgin will conceive a child!
She will give birth to a son,
and they will call him Immanuel,
which means ‘God is with us.’”
She will give birth to a son,
and they will call him Immanuel,
which means ‘God is with us.’”
24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. 25 But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.
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