December 25, 2023

Christmas Miracles–Right on Time

Hi Friend! Merry Christmas. As many struggles as this year has had, it has given me a desire to marinate on the Jesus’ birth story with a fresh perspective. He was born in such a dark time, like now. I am in awe. Let’s explore together  studying these Matthew 1 and Luke 2 miracles.

You may have already known this, but I didn’t realize between the end of the Old Testament with Malachi to the beginning of the New Testament with Matthew and the story of Jesus, there was a 400-year gap of silence. Four hundred years of God not speaking through the prophets!

It may seem like God has been silent. May we be encouraged that when God speaks and acts, He’s right on time–not too late and not too early.

Buckle up. I packed a lot in this post. 🙂

1. Birth of Jesus Christ

A. Why Bethlehem? Luke 2:1-6; Prophesied 700+ years earlier in Micah 5:2-5–incredible.

B. Why Joseph? Luke 2:4, 16, 33. Matthew 2:13, 13:55-58. Not much is written about Joseph. We know from Matthew 13 that he was a carpenter and he and Mary had seven children. God chose him as the strong, gentle, silent, loyal leader and husband.

C. Why was there no room in the inn? Luke 2:   With all the people coming from the region to register for the Roman Census, all the inns were full. I can empathize with the Inn-Keeper. He was a busy business leader who was doing his best to accommodate Mary and Joseph with a cave/stable.

  • I love this The Inn-Keeper’s Perspective from Frederick Buechner’s  book Magnificent Defeat, “The Birth” chapter: “…So when the baby came I was not around, and I saw none of it…All your life long, you wait for your own True Love to come–our destiny, our heart’s desire…When he came, I missed him. ‘Pray for me, brothers and sisters. Pray for the Inn-Keeper. Pray for me, and for us all, my own true love.'”
  • How am I like the Inn Keeper? Why do I leave no room for Jesus?
  • What can I do to make more room for Jesus in my life, my schedule, my bank account?

2. The Shepherds and the Angels

A. Why Shepherds as the first witnesses?  Luke 2: 8-14. Prophesied in Micah 4:8. Shepherds  were humble, lowly, outcasts. It’s fitting that they would be the first witnesses of His birth.  Jesus is also our Great Shepherd.

B. Why Swaddling cloths? Luke 2:7, 12.  Swaddling cloths were wrapped around sheep paws to cover the blemishes. It’s beautifully that Jesus as our Sacrificial Lamb was wrapped in those swaddling cloths.

C. Why Suddenly? Luke 2: 13. When God calls, He often does miracles suddenly. We respond suddenly and with haste. (Luke 1: 39, Luke 4:39, Acts 2:2)

  1. What  miracles has God performed suddenly in your life or in the Bible?
  2. How can I respond “suddenly” like the shepherds and tell everyone what God has done?

3. The Wise Men—Matthew 2: 1-12

A. Why them? Well-respected, well-educated members of society.

B. Why did they wait to see Jesus? It was almost two years since Jesus birth. Traveled about 1000 miles to see him at home in Nazareth.

C. Why gold, frankincense and myrrh?

  1. Read “We Three Kings” lyrics–Gold for a King; Frankincense for a High Priest/Deity; Myrrh for Sacrifice as embalming fluid to symbolize His death.
  2. What meaningful gifts can I give my loved ones? Can I give to Jesus? My heart.

D. Why did they go back home a different way? To protect Jesus from being killed by Herod.

4. Jesus Presented at the Temple–Luke 2:22-38

A. Why were there two turtledoves? Luke 2:24. A sacrificial offering for his birth.  “Twelve Days of Christmas” are all symbolic of our “True Love”–Jesus.

B. Why Simeon? Luke 2:25. Only time he is mentioned. Approx. 112 years old. Devout and righteous. The Holy Spirit prophesied through him to them. God loves to do extraordinary through the ordinary.

C. Why Anna? Luke 2:36-38. Only time she is mentioned. She was approximately 104 years old. A prophetess who prayed and fasted day and night.

  1. What set Anna and Simeon apart? A. Available to be used by God; B. Attuned to the Holy Spirit; C. Agile; D. Humble.
  2. How can God use me, an ordinary person, to do the extraordinary, like Anna and Simeon?

May we reflect on the miracles of this Christmas like never before. For an added blessing, please enjoy this Christmas Pilot episode of The Chosen called “The Shepherd.” Notice how bright the Christmas Star was to guide the shepherds to Jesus.

Merry Christmas, friends!

December 19, 2023

Lord, What Do You Want For Your Birthday?

December is a month for some significant birthdays in my life. My precious Mom’s birthday was on December 6th.  The birthday of one of my Godly mentors is December 26th.

Oftentimes, I ask a simple question to those we love before their birthday: “What do you want for your birthday?” If you are like me, I just want to ensure my loved one is honored in the most meaningful way. Isn’t that what we want for our birthdays…to  know we are loved and cherished?

The most significant person in my life, really in this world, celebrates His birth each December 25th. Isn’t it wonderful that we all adorn our homes in Christmas finery and decorate the inside and outside with bright lights in honor of His birthday?  We bake treats, buy gifts and send cards to our most significant loved ones , friends, and coworkers (and even strangers), and go above and beyond to volunteer and do “random acts of kindness” this time a year. Why? Perhaps it truly is all part of His birthday celebration, honoring the Light Of  The World (John 8:12).

However you may feel about Him, one fact is irrefutable. History sets its time stamp of demarcation with Jesus’ birth—BC, “Before Christ”, and AD, “Anno Domini,” Latin for “In the Year of Our Lord.”   Even the Old Testament prophesied Jesus’ birth (especially in the book of Isaiah) at least 700 years before He was born! Isn’t it fitting that we give Him our best as we celebrate His birthday?

When I was growing up, we baked a birthday cake for Christmas Day and sang “Happy Birthday” to Jesus. I will always remember those sweet memories.

So, in this December 2023 AD, in the year of our Lord,  I  encourage you to ask Him a simple question:

“Lord, What Do You Want For Your Birthday?”

Then listen…

Could His birthday gift be:

–to reconcile with your loved one…

–to rake the yard of and sit with an elderly neighbor…

–to babysit for a worn-out married couple to have a date night…

–to share your testimony and love of Jesus with your co-worker…

You can almost hear His still, small voice, can’t you?

“Your Heart, Dear One. That’s all I want. Your Heart.”

Reflect:

  • How will this Christmas, Jesus’ birthday celebration, be different from years past?
  • How can we listen and act more intentionally after asking the question, “Lord, what do You want for your birthday?”

Renew:

  • “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.” –Colossians 3:23
  • “I am sending Him—who is my very heart—back to you.” –Philemon 1:12.
  • “Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the Truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply from the heart.” –1 Peter 1: 22

Recharge:

  • After asking, seeking, and listening, what intentional actions in your life have you been prompted to take?
  • Consider baking a birthday cake on Christmas Day and singing “Happy Birthday” to Jesus. Let’s party!
  • Please leave a comment.
December 10, 2023

Christmas Miracles–Four Lessons Learned from Mary and her Relative Elizabeth in Luke 1

Happy December!  I get so excited about the Christmas season.

I also get so excited about the Christmas story in Luke 2—the angel, the manger, the shepherds, Mary, Joseph, the wise men, AND sweet baby Jesus’s birth. As we read Luke 2, I also love reading the inspiring story of Elizabeth and John the Baptist in Luke 1. I see a story of struggle and God’s miracle. The kind of story I love. The kind of story I live and can relate to.

Three of my favorite verses are found throughout this Luke 1 chapter. I never realized how much was in that chapter foretelling John the Baptist’s and Jesus’ birth.

Zechariah was a priest, and his wife Elizabeth had not been able to get pregnant. An angel appeared to Zechariah and told him not to be afraid (if I saw an angel I’d be afraid also), and that his prayer had been heard. I love that.

The angel told him he would have a son, name him John.

“He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord…and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth.” –Luke 1:14, 15.

Zechariah doubted the angel, asking:

“How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” –Luke 1:18.

Ouch. How many times do I doubt God’s promises, God’s goodness, God’s faithfulness? My “soul holes” of doubt speak louder than my faith.

Because Zechariah doubted, he was struck silent for her whole pregnancy. People in the temple could tell he had seen a vision. He made signs with his hands but could not speak.

His sweet wife Elizabeth became pregnant and remained in seclusion for five months. Her response was,

“The Lord has done this for me.” –Luke 1:25.

Amen. What profound gratitude.

Six months into Elizabeth’s pregnancy, the angel Gabriel visits Elizabeth’s young relative Mary in a little town of Nazareth. The angel Gabriel told Mary she would give birth to a son named Jesus.

“He will be great and will be called Son of the most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David…His Kingdom will never end.” –Luke 1:32, 33b.

Mary asked the angel how it would happen since she was a virgin. The angel’s response is so encouraging.

“Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.”  —Luke 1:36, 37.

AMEN! Mary’s response is one of my favorite in the entire Bible.

“’I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.’ Then the angel left her.” –Luke 1:38.

Can you imagine being 13 or 14 years old, as Mary was, and having the kind of Spirit-filled faith to be that obedient? She is such an inspiring testament of faith.

Then Mary went to visit Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s voice, the baby inside of her leaped, and Elizabeth was filled with the holy Spirit. Elizabeth encouraged Mary, saying in a LOUD voice:

“Blessed are you among women and blessed is the child you will bear!….” –Luke 1:42.

Elizabeth declared another one of my favorite verses:

“Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!” –Luke 1:45.

Friend, what can we learn from this passage so full of miracles and wisdom?

1) God hears our prayers. The angel affirmed Zechariah first by saying his prayer had been heard. Every prayer is heard, no matter how short the prayers are and how desperately we cry out to God.

2)Whatever in our life seems “barren,” God provides life in that barren spot. Nothing is impossible with God. For me it’s my singleness. God fills my “barren spot” and heart’s desire for a husband. You may have a “barren” relationship or a yearning for a child. God fills that soul hole, even on days that are hard, especially at Christmas.

3) May we always give God the praise. Like Elizabeth who had prayed for years to be pregnant, “The Lord has done this for me.” All comes from Him.

4) May we have the humility and faith like Mary to be totally obedient. Not only did she say she was the Lord’s servant. She declared her total surrender. “May it be to me as you have said.”

Oh, I pray so for me and you also. Total surrender.

It was for Mary. It will be for us also if we surrender our will. May Thy will, not my will, be done.

Merry Christmas, friend.

Reflect:

–What seems “barren” in your life? What seems impossible? Please comment.

–What prayers do you want God to hear? Keep praying. He hears them all.

Renew:

“And Mary said: ‘My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is His name.” –Luke 1: 46-49.

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