The Story of Christmas

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register. 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 2:1-20

Merry Christmas everyone!

Rights of Sons

But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.  Galatians 4:4-5

We Are Loved

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  John 3:16

Gifts

Then the Magi opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.  Matthew 2:11b

Worship Him

On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.  Matthew 2:11a

The Star

The star the Magi 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.  Matthew 2:9b-10

King of the Jews

The Magi 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."  Matthew 2:2

Magi

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem...  Matthew 2:1

Glorifying and Praising

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 2:20

Treasured and Pondered

When the shepherds 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.  Luke 2:17-19

The Gift

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.  Luke 2:16

Shepherds

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."  Luke 2:15

Peace on Earth

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."  Luke 2:13-14

Savior

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.  Luke 2:11-12

Good News

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."  Luke 2:8-10

Manger

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

House and Line of David

Everyone went to his own town to register. 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.  Luke 2:3-5

Census

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.  Luke 2:1

Immanuel

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.  Isaiah 7:14

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel which means, "God with us."  Matthew 1:22-23

Joseph's Dream

Joseph also had a message from an angel of the Lord. The angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.  Matthew 1:20-21, 24

Lord's Servant

Even though Mary was completely surprised by the news the angel had given her, she responded by saying, "I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.  Luke 1:38

Kingdom Will Never End

The angel also told Mary "The Lord God will give Jesus the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."  Luke 1:32b-33

Jesus

The angel told Mary, "You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. Jesus will grow up to be great and will be called the Son of the Most High."  Luke 1:31-32a

Greetings

"The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greetings this might be. But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God."  Luke 1: 28-30

Gabriel

"In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary."  Luke 1:26-27

Acts of Kindness

As we prepare to celebrate Jesus' birthday, do you wondered what kind of gift you give a Savior King who has everything?

The challenge for the month of December is to perform at least one random act of kindness each day. This is in addition to your usual holiday traditions. Some suggestions are:
* open doors for others
* let someone in front of you in line
* pay for the person behind you in the drive thru
* make baked goods for public servants
Pray God would show you everyday opportunities for acts of kindness, and that He would reap all the honor and praise.

They say it takes 21 days to form a habit. If this is true and you commit to this challenge, you will have started a good habit for the year 2011. Will you accept the challenge?

Getting Focused

Weekends are for getting focused!

 

Reflect and Focus

Soon after we gobble the turkey, our thoughts turn to Christmas. What do you think about? Do you worry about finding the perfect gift at the best price, or completing the long gift list? Do you fret about getting the house cleaned and decorated before parties and guests arrive, or what to fix for Christmas dinner? Do you feel tense just thinking about the coming month?

Take this last weekend in November to sit and reflect on what Christmas is really about. Yes, it's Jesus' birthday, but just like we were born with a purpose so was He. He came to earth to live a life of service, to bring forgiveness and life through His death and resurrection. "Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many." Matthew 20:28

Shouldn't our Christmas celebration acknowledge His birth, serve others in His name, share the good news, and offer forgiveness like we've experienced ourselves? If we'll stop, ask, and truly listen, He will give wisdom and strength to focus on what He finds important. Then our Christmas season will be joyful.

Reasons for Thanksgiving

There are many reasons to be thankful this Thanksgiving. Here are just a few...
A - America
B - body of believers
C - comfort, cross
D - Daddy
E - encouragement
F - forgiveness, family & friends
G - grace
H - hope
 I - instruction
J - joy in Jesus
K - knowledge, kindness
L - laughter, love, life
M - mercy
N - near
O - omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscient
P - patient provider
Q - quiet time
R - redeemer
S - Savior
T - trustworthy
U - understanding
V - value
W - Word
X - "X"cellent creator
Y - yoke (His is light)
Z - zillion more blessings to name

Thankful

With the month of November come thoughts of thanksgiving. We stop to count our blessings and say "thank you" for our many freedoms. Why does it take a holiday to remind us to do what we're commanded?
"Let us come before Him with thanksgiving..." Psalm 95:2

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe..." Hebrews 12:28

The challenge for this month and every month after is to give thanks for at least ten different things each day. Will you accept the challenge?

Celebrating Seasons

Weekends are for celebrating seasons!

Staying Connected

Weekends are for staying connected!

Seeking

Weekends are for seeking!

Fear is the Beginning

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge." Proverbs 1:7

This fear is one of awe and reverence, a feeling of deep respect and love. This reverence comes from a right relationship with God. But it doesn't stop there. That's just the beginning. Beginning of what?

"... what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord's commands and decrees..."  Deuteronomy 10:12-13

First you fear Him, then you start to walk. While walking, you learn to love. Out of love, you develop a desire to serve. When serving, you display obedience. Our obedience comes out of love and respect for Him.

It's true, fear is the beginning.

Act and Believe

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

This verse has been one of my favorites for at least a decade now. But I wonder... do I act and believe accordingly? I still worry about how things will turn out at work. I still wonder what to do next. I still feel stuck and long for something different.

I've learned to focus on what I know to be true instead of what I feel.
I know He loves me. (Psalms 103:10-12, Isaiah 43:1-4, Lamentations 3:22-23, John 15:9-11, Romans 5:8, Titus 3:4-7, 1John 3:1; 4:9-10)

I know He wants the best for me. (Psalms 84:11; 145:8-9, Isaiah 30:18, Philippians 1:6, James 1:17)

I know He is sovereign and in control of everything. (Job 28-41; 42:2, Psalms 135:6, Isaiah 40:10-31)

It's not always easy, but I go with what I know to be true and the feelings follow... eventually. And even if they don't, it doesn't change the truth. "He has a plan to prosper me and not to harm me, plans to give me hope and a future."

Reflections

Weekends are for reflection!

It's My Choice

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."
Philippians 4:6-9

It starts and ends with my choice.
I'm told not to worry. I have a choice.
I'm told to worship, petition, and give thanks instead. I have a choice.
I'm promised if I obey, "He will guard my heart and mind with His peace".
I'm told to think about truth, excellence, right, pure, lovely, admirable, praiseworthy things. I have a choice.
I'm told to put these things into practice. I have a choice.
I'm promised if I occupy my mind with these things, "He will be with me".
The choice is simply mine to make.

Rest

Weekends are for rest!

Intimate Relationship

"Knowing God involves an intimate, personal relationship that is developed over time through prayer and getting answers to prayer, through Bible study and applying its teaching to our lives, through obedience and experiencing the power of God, through moment-by-moment submission to Him that results in a moment-by-moment filling of the Holy Spirit."
Anne Graham Lotz

There are two parts to building an intimate relationship with Him, my part and His.
I pray, He gives answers.
I study the Word, He shows me application.
I obey, He allows me to experience His power.
I submit, He fills me up with the Holy Spirit.

He is always faithful to do His part. Am I?

Wait and Listen

"In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation." Psalm 5:3

Two things in this verse jump out at me.
1. In the morning. The writer states this not once but twice. The Lord should be the first one I talk to in the morning. He should be my first priority. I can't wait till the end of the day to talk to Him about today for the first time.

2. Wait in expectation. Oh how I dread the word wait! For a long time I thought it meant to sit still, like a bump on a log, and I don't always sit well. Webster defines wait as " to be ready". Am I ready to listen? Do I watch for His answer to my requests? He has promised when I seek Him, I will find Him. How often do I miss His answer because I don't wait with expectation?

Thankful

Weekends are for being thankful!

Blessings

Weekends are for counting blessings!

Pray Without Ceasing

In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, it says to "pray without ceasing". Cease means to end; stop. How do you pray without stopping? I can't talk all day; it's impossible. My career demands I talk a lot, but then I like to be quiet at home. At some point, I have to eat, and I can't stand mouths full while talking. Sooner or later, I have to sleep, and I can't really rest while talking. So, what does it mean to pray without ceasing?

I believe it's a mind thing instead of a mouth thing. I believe it starts by noticing Him in everything. It is being aware of Him at all times. It is acknowledging Him in good times and bad.

Like when He sends me a breeze while I mow the yard, I thank Him for His provision. When I set boundaries for students and keep them, I realize He protects me because He loves me. When I sit at a red light, I see His timing is perfect. When I hear a child throwing a fit in the store, I know He creates each life with a purpose. When I see a full moon, I smile because His beauty is breathtaking.

What does "pray without ceasing" look like for you?

Conversations with Friends

How often do you talk with your friends? What about your best friend? I love the comfort that comes from recognizing a friend by hearing one spoken word. With some it's "hello", others "hey", a few "it's me". How does that happen?

TIME & PRACTICE

With one word you can tell if a friend is excited, sick, upset, or tired. You can even hear their voice in letters, emails, and texts. A day doesn't go by that I don't talk with one or more friends. We talk either in person, by phone, or email.

Do I talk with the Father as much or more? He is always present: in me, beside me, in front of me, and behind me. Do I listen enough to know His voice with one word? Do you?

Daily Conversations

What do you think of when you hear the word prayer?
- church
- Lord's prayer
- count how many thee(s) and thou(s)
- heads bowed and eyes closed
- "in Jesus' name" or "Amen"
- Hail Mary or Apostle's Creed
- is this the right way or wrong way

I've come to learn that prayer is a daily conversation with the Creator of the Universe, who is also my Daddy. When I was younger I worried about the details. I would try to walk through my prayer before speaking it aloud. (I still catch myself sometimes.) Although I knew the truth in my head, He heard me, forgave me, blessed me, I felt something was lacking. It didn't always feel real.

As I've grown, I've learned to let go of some perfectionist tendencies (a work in progress) and traditions. This has freed me to be more genuine with Him. This has allowed our relationship to be more personal. I am more aware of His omnipresence as I pray.

Yes, there is a time for "heads bowed and eyes closed". But, I also pray on my way to work with my eyes wide open. At times I pray "in Jesus name" and other times I don't "end" it at all. I heard John MacArthur say, "Reading the Bible is like eating, and praying is like breathing." I breathe constantly. I should be in constant conversation with my Lord.

So what comes to mind when you hear the word prayer?