Friday, December 14, 2018

Micah 5:2-5a

Micah 5:2

“As for you, Bethlehem of Ephrathah, though you are the least significant of Judah’s forces, one who is to be a ruler in Israel on my behalf will come out from you.”

Bethlehem:

• Bethlehem is a Palestinian town south of Jerusalem in the West Bank.

• The biblical birthplace of Jesus, it’s a major Christian pilgrimage destination.

• The birth is marked by an inlaid silver star in a grotto under the 6th-century Church of the Nativity, which shares Manger Square with the 15th-century Church of St. Catherine

• 1860 Mosque of Omar.

Old Testament References to Jesus’ Birth:

Isaiah 9:6, “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”

Isaiah 11:10, “Then in that day The nations will resort to the root of Jesse, Who will stand as a signal for the people’s; And His resting place will be glorious.”

Jeremiah 23:5, “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the LORD, “When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; And He will reign as king and act wisely And do justice and righteousness in the land.”

Numbers 24:17, “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near; A star shall come forth from Jacob, A scepter shall rise from Israel, And shall crush through the forehead of Moab, And tear down all the sons of Sheth.”

History-Introduction of Micah:

Today, we are reading about the city of Bethlehem, the birth place of Jesus. The passage is from the prophet Micah, a contemporary of Isaiah, prophesied during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah over Judah, and of Pekahiah, Pekah, and Hoshea over Israel 2 Kings 15:23-30 ; 17:1-6 . He was a prophet in Judah Jeremiah 26:17-19 but the book called by his name chiefly concerns Samaria.

Micah falls into three prophetic strains, each beginning, “Hear”:

1. 1:1-2:13

2. 3:1-5:15

3. 6:1-7:20

The events recorded Micah cover a period of 40 years (Ussher).

Interesting fact:

David is halfway between Abraham and Jesus. Fourteen generations on either side of David. (Matthew 1:17)

It certainly sounds like the prophet Micah had lots of things to say the Israelites. During the time of Micah’s writings the nation had been in many battles and the land lay in waste, almost all of her people had been exiled, this was a dark time for its people. Micah reminded the people of God’s promises and that a son of David was coming to rule and sit on the throne. This all took place at least seven hundred years before Jesus’ birth. The people needed to be awakened and renewed. It is fascinating to me as I read this story and reflect upon it, looking back on history, having a vantage point, hindsight of sorts. It is not difficult for me to see and understand the need hope and the anticipation that the Israelites would have had. This is because, here more than two thousand years after Jesus’ death and resurrection, I get excited about the meaning and purpose of this season. The celebration of the birth of a baby, in Bethlehem and the promises fulfilled all those many nights ago. We, present day Christians already know the story, and yet each year it is new again. We seek to be renewed and reminded of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. We, much like the Israelites were waiting for Jesus’ birth, we are waiting for His return, often refer to as the Second Coming of Christ. What a glorious day that will be, to be united with God for all eternity. This season of Advent, much like children waiting for gifts on Christmas morning from the guy in the red suit, we wait for the Lord’s eternal never-ending gift. As I am typing and think of Santa, children, gifts, and believing…it’s not so far-reaching to see similarities in adults during this season. As we grow into adults do we not do the same with equal pure hearts(?) When we think of Jesus, His gift of salvation freely given and we believe. “When I was a child, I spoke as a child…” 1 Corinthians 13:11. When I grew, I learned that Santa was not a real person, but mom and dad and that Jesus is the reason for the season. I think there’s value in teaching the concept of Santa and allowing children to learn and grasp things they are capable of doing as they grow. I also believe that the birth of Jesus is and should be taught to children from the beginning of their lives, to me it seems like there’s little harm in believing in Santa. Life is a progression, it’s about learning, growing and the transferring of concepts/beliefs into your life.

May we greet one another as Christ would during this season, with grace and mercy.

Thank you for reading my words, I truly appreciate everyone who takes the time to read them. I am not a trained minister or spiritual leader, I do love Jesus and sharing His words. I’m a person just like everyone else. I am seeking to do the best I can to bring glory to God and to spread the “Good News!”

Prayer: May your ageless words enrich our time. Amen.

~Peace and Blessings~

References:

https://www.biblegateway.com

www.abingdonpress.com

https://www.merriam-webster.com/

https://www.google.com/search?q=bethlehem&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-us&client=safari

https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/scofield-reference-notes/micah/micah-introduction.html

https://www.thoughtco.com/book-of-2-samuel

December 13, 2018

Luke 3:7-18

Luke 3:17b

“He will clean out his threshing area and bring the wheat into his barn. But he will burn the husks with a fire that can’t be put out.”

Ready:

• prepared mentally or physically for some experience or action

• prepared for immediate use

• willingly disposed

• likely to do something indicated

• displayed readily and spontaneously

• immediately available

Today, we read about John, son of Zechariah and Elizabeth. He was born and lived to prepare the way for the Messiah. He was a devoted Jew and followed strict practices. John was considered a prophet, not a priest like his father. John had a strict adherence to Jewish purity laws and ascetic conduct of a Nazirite, a Jew especially vowed to God’s service.

[Nazirite, (from Hebrew nazar, “to abstain from,” or “to consecrate oneself to”), among the ancient Hebrews, a sacred person whose separation was most commonly marked by his uncut hair and his abstinence from wine. Originally, the Nazirite was endowed with special charismatic gifts and normally held his status for life. Later, the term was applied to a man who had voluntarily vowed to undertake special religious observances for a limited period of time, the completion of which was marked by the presentation of offerings (Numbers 6; 1 Maccabees 3:49; Acts 21:24).]

John’s message and interest was to prepare/tell people of the coming of the Messiah. It was interested in the commitment of people to their faith and in the action of their faith. He told people if they had 2 coats, give one away to someone in need. He told the soldiers to be satisfied with their pay and not to extort money from people or make threats to them for their own gain or pleasure. To the tax collectors, he said do not collect more than that which is owed. To believers, he preached total commitment, urged them to not just go through the motions, if you are a believer then your actions would speak for you. He encouraged compassion for others, and to share one’s abundance.

In verses, 7-9 and 17 John talks about good and bad trees, cutting the ones down that do not bear fruit and throw them into the fire. He also talks of clearing the threshing floor, gathering wheat and putting the chaff in the unquenchable fire. These metaphorical to the Christian life and eternal life. When we live and practice our faith through the way we live and it’s pleasing to God, we are fruitful! At judgment, if we have fought the good fight, and lived a commitment life for God, we will be the grain and not the chaff. *See references for more scripture verses for bearing fruit, grains and chaff.

In verse 15, the crowds are wondering if John was in fact the Messiah, he quickly tells them he is not! He tells the crowds that he baptizes with water, but the one coming is greater than he is and that he will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire.

John was ready to make a path for Jesus.

John, preached to the crowds to be ready for the Messiah.

John was ready to make a way for the Messiah and to present Jesus, the Messiah to everyone.

Are you READY?

Prayer: Lord, challenge me into being a true disciple for you. Amen.

~Peace and Blessings~

References:

https://www.biblegateway.com

http://www.abingdonpress.com

https://www.merriam-webster.com/

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Nazirite

https://www.openbible.info/topics/bearing_fruit

https://www.openbible.info/topics/wheat_and_ch

Wednesday, December 10, 2018

Luke 1:67-79

Luke 1:76, “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways.”

Covenant:

• a usually formal, solemn, and binding agreement

• a written agreement or promise usually under seal between two or more parties especially for the performance of some action

• the common-law action to recover damages for breach of such a contract

• to promise

• to enter into

The scripture passage for today, tells us of Zechariah’s voice returning and how he recounts the promises of God to His people referring to God’s holy covenant in Luke 1:72-73, “Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors, and has remembered his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham, to grant us.” As we continue reading Luke 1:76-79, we read our the role John will play in preparing the way and the people for Jesus and His ministry. What an exciting day for everyone present for Zechariah and Elizabeth’s son to be circumcised. *Full story read Luke 1:57-67.  Zechariah’s voice returned, his son was named, John just as the angel had told them and Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and then spoke a prophesy to all those present. He reminds the people of God’s promises to His people, His children that they would be saved from their enemies, that they would be rescued and that they might serve without fear. What a day of celebration that must have been! Zechariah goes on to speak directly to his son, John telling him of the many wonders he would do in making preparations for the Lord. He explains the vital role John would have in making way for Jesus, John will be proclaiming Jesus’ arrival and that He would give light to the darkness. The advent story is so detailed and relative to the family bonds that were strengthened through the miracles of two women, cousins. They would both become pregnant, beyond belief, not for their glory…for God’s glory. Though the stories are completely believable to today’s believers it would not have been so easy back then, furthermore, Mary would have had many scorning her, gossiping about her and wanted to punish her but Joseph cared for her and her wellbeing before he knew the circumstances of her situation. What a noble, standup guy he was! I love the imagery of these two families coming together for the cause of making a way for baby Jesus to come into the world and be our Lord and Savior. My hope is that you find peace in hearing this advent story. I pray that you believe in the saving power of Jesus Christ and the sacrifices that were made so all could receive forgiveness and have a personal relationship with Jesus. If I can pray for you, please let me know. Today, we can hold onto the promises of God and know that He will keep His covenants.

HOPE

PEACE

Prayer: Oh Lord, empower your church to tell, teach and attend to the world. Amen.

~Peace and Blessings~

References:

https://www.biblegateway.com

http://www.abingdonpress.com

https://www.merriam-webster.com/

https://m.youtube.c

Previously posted under, “What to Do When Your Boss Frustrates You But You Love Your Job”

Some additional thoughts…

Friends, to be honest I’ve been asking myself this question a lot lately and although I have many ideas I decided to go start with Google! That right, answers for the masses. I found a helpful article and will share it with you.

In my previous post I provided a rather personal point of view that now may not have been the most beneficial to the masses. After careful review and recommendations from trusted sources I now see that the title of my blog may have presented my material with a negative tinge to it, which was not my intent at all. While our vocations at times present negative situations, my hope is to clarify the situation and not necessarily the emotions of said situations. The truth is the vocations we choose are, in most cases two-fold, desire to do them and a means to live. When I was a kid, I remember an adult telling me that “work, is work that’s why they call it work.” I am not sure I ever understood it but I accepted it and have worked jobs for the sole purpose of working in order to live.

Work:

• to function or operate according to plan
• to perform or fulfill duties regularly for wages or salary
• to perform or carry through a task requiring sustained effort or continuous repeated operations
• to exert oneself physically or mentally especially in sustained effort for a purpose or under compulsion or necessity
• to produce a desired effect or result : succeed a plan that will work
• to exert an influence or tendency
• to make way slowly and with difficulty : move or progress laboriously
• to move slightly in relation to another part
• to be in agitation or restless motion
• to set or keep in motion, operation, or activity : cause to operate or produce
• to bring to pass
• to solve (a problem) by reasoning or calculation
• to cause to toil or labor
• to make use of : exploit
• to control or guide the operation
• to carry on an operation or perform a job
• to greet and talk with in a friendly way in order to ingratiate oneself or achieve a purpose
• to bring into a desired form
• to fashion or create a useful or desired product by expending labor or exertion
• to get (oneself or an object) into or out of a condition or position by gradual stages

Here’s the link to the original article:

https://www.themuse.com/advice/what-to-do-when-you-hate-your-boss-but-love-your-job

In closing, I would like to reiterate what helps me in times of frustrations and feeling overwhelmed. Identify and know your areas of control and your areas of concern, clearing distinguishing your boundaries and responsibilities. These are things I wish I had learned earlier in life, but if I had I would have missed the experience of knowing the value of those lessons. I’m grateful for the lessons learned and growth that God has given to me through various things but mostly importantly through the people He has placed within my life. I wish for you knowledge and discernment in all you pursue. May God richly bless you!

As for the two articles I’ve mentioned, I am going to consider some of the suggestions; however, I am going to concentrate on my own actions and my own reactions to situations. I am the only one who can control those two things and they are essential for any true happiness or even contentment. I cannot change others but I absolutely can change how I respond. I can accept the way things are and be happy if they improve but if not I can still be happy. I can choose to continue doing the job I love, period. I can champion myself and believe in myself. I can continue to enjoy challenging myself by taking on new projects and completing online training courses in addition to the ones already assigned to me, I do them for myself and having them help me with my job is a bonus. A second thing I’ve found to be important is that I can’t compare myself to my coworker or even point out their skills that may be different or lacking, nope I can only control my stuff, me! I do not get evaluated on what others do or do not do, only what I do. We must we look at what we can control and stay in our area. I learned a valuable learn from a friend, I like to call it “Area of Control” and “Area of Concern.” It’s not wrong to be aware of the area of concern just remember that once you step out of the control arena into concern it can easily become overwhelming because someone else is in the driver’s seat and you are just a passenger. Just proceed with caution!

Friends, my humble advice is to always seek the counsel of God before making any life decision. Be open to the Holy Spirit and spend time in prayer. God loves you and is always with you!

Isaiah 41:10 “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

Proverbs 18:24 “One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

~Peace and Blessings~

References:

• Webster dictionary https://www.merriam-webster.com/

• https://www.eagleonline.com/work-is-called-work-for-a-reason/

• https://www.themuse.com/advice/what-to-do-when-you-hate-your-boss-but-love-your-job

December 10, 2018

Luke 1:39-45

“But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.” -Luke 1:43-44

Miracle:

• an extraordinary event

• divine interventionin human affairs

• an extremely outstanding or unusual event, thing, or accomplishment

• a divinely natural phenomenonexperienced humanly as the fulfillment of spiritual law

As a believer in Jesus Christ, I believe in miracles. The Bible is filled with examples of God doing countless miracles. I believe that miracles still happen today, the Bible tells us that nothing is impossible with God.

Jeremiah 32:27, “ “I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?”

Miracles and prayers answered are for me, synonymous because they both are only from the Lord, God Almighty! People are daily cured of deadly diseases, daily petitions are made to God asking for very specific things that could only happen when/if God allows them. God is not to be confused with Aladdin or a Genie in a bottle! God is real, He was a man with flesh and blood as you and I. God was in the beginning, all things were created by Him with the Holy Spirit and Jesus. How do I know this, the Bible clearly states it in John 1:1-3 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”

Our scripture reading today and the words of Sue Mink the author of the Advent pamphlet reminds us of two miracles. The verses tell us of two women who should not be pregnant, yet clearly, they both were. Mary, a very young virgin, promised in marriage and Elizabeth, married to a priest (Zechariah) but beyond childbirth and referenced as old and barren in Luke 1:7 “But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.”

The miracles don’t stop at them both becoming pregnant, NO…Elizabeth’s son would make ready a people, prepared for the Lord.” (Luke 1:17) Elizabeth’s son would be, John the Baptist and he is a cousin to Jesus, Christ Jesus, the Son of God! This story just keeps getting better and better, God’s beautiful woven miracles of reason and purpose. I pray you see the power and evidence of God’s miracles in the world around you and within your own life! All praise and glory to God!

C.S.Lewis-

“Nothing can seem extraordinary until you have discovered what is ordinary. Belief in miracles, far from depending on an ignorance of the laws of nature, is only possible in so far as those laws are known” -Miracles: A Preliminary Study

Prayer: Lord Jesus, may I see you and serve you. Amen.

~Peace and Blessings~

References:

https://www.biblegateway.com

https://www.biblestudytools.com/topical-verses/bible-verses-about-miracles/

https://m.youtube.com/

https://www.abingdonpress.com/

Friends, to be honest I’ve been asking myself this question a lot lately and although I have many ideas I decided to go start with Google! That right, answers for the masses. I found a helpful article and will share it with you.

I truly do love my job, it allows for creativity and teamwork as well as individual projects. I work in a small department and as for our group, we are quite diverse and this can present some challenges due to the strong personalities within the group. Collectively, we perform our particular job functions superbly and with few errors and with little to no direct supervision. We all know the job and our responsibilities and pride ourselves in delivering quality work not just for ourselves, or even just our department but for the agency as a whole. There’s value in the work we perform and the appreciation for doing well is often from coworkers and rarely from our department manager. I must pause and make clear, I can only speculate as to why my manager does or does not offer more praise or encouragement, it may just be his management style and let’s face it we are all adults and are capable of doing a job without the proverbial praise and good job, followed by a high-five, not to mention a congratulatory email for recognition. The truth, from my viewpoint is yes people are motivated by money, time off, a plaque and/or a certificate BUT…my experience is people just want to be told every once in a while they are appreciated and their efforts are known. It costs absolutely nothing to tell someone they are valued and the company is fortunate to have them. I have actually been a manager/boss in a couple of previous jobs and I tried to treat my employees the way I would want to be treated. I was not always successful and I failed a lot but I also learned and changed to meet the challenges. The absolute truth is that there’s no one right answer to any of these things. Some people just need to move on to other things, seek out jobs that feed you, mentally as well as physically. I have a particular coworker who has mentioned wanting a new job, I honestly would hate for this person to leave because of their command presence in the office, I’ve learned so many things just from observing and working side by side with this individual, but God has a plan for each of us and some times they are not what we want. I’m okay with all this, it would be hard but I’m a believer in things happening for a reason and a purpose. I am going to take some suggestions from the article I’m going to share with the post and concentrate on me, my actions and my reactions. I am the only one who can control those two things and they are essential for any true happiness or even contentment. I cannot change my manager, I can change how I respond. I can accept the way things are and be happy if they improve but if not I can still be happy. I can choose to continue doing the job I love regardless if my manager gives me the moral support I think I deserve. I can champion myself and believe in myself. I enjoy challenging myself now by taking on new projects and completing online training courses in addition to the ones already assigned to me, I do them for myself and having them help me with my job is a bonus. A second thing I’ve found to be important is that I can’t compare myself to my coworker or even point out their skills that are lacking or the workload differences, nope I can only control my stuff, me! I do not get evaluated on what others do or do not do, only what I do. We must we look at what we can control and stay in our area. I learned a valuable learn from my coworker that will remain with me for the rest of my life and I’ve even been able to see its benefits in all areas of my life, not just work. It’s called “Area of Control” and “Area of Concern.” It’s not wrong to be aware of the area of concern just remember that once you step out of the control arena into concern it can easily become overwhelming because someone else is in the driver’s seat and you are just a passenger. Just proceed with caution!

Here’s the link to the article:

https://www.themuse.com/advice/what-to-do-when-you-hate-your-boss-but-love-your-job

Friends, always seek the counsel of God before making any life decision. Be open to the Holy Spirit and spend time in prayer. God loves you and is always with you!

Isaiah 41:10 “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

Proverbs 18:24 “One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

~Peace and Blessings~

December 9, 2018

Matthew 1:18-25

Matthew 1:21

“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.”

C.S.Lewis- Reflection: Matthew 1:23

“Christianity is not merely what a man does with his solitude. It is not even what God does with His solitude. It tells of God descending into the coarse publicity of history and there enacting what can — and must — be talked about.” –From “The Founding of the Socratic Club” -God in the Dock

Greetings and Happy Second Sunday of Advent!

I have certainly enjoyed sharing the advent story with you this past week and for the opportunity to share my thoughts with you. Today our story’s focus is with Joseph and his response to Mary being pregnant. He cares for Mary and does not want her to be shamed by the public but he certainly cannot marry her. While Joseph was burdened with all this, God sends an angel to him and explains that Mary is telling him the truth, she is having a baby but she has not been with a man. She was blessed by God and became pregnant by the Holy Spirit. The angel tells Joseph that Mary was greatly regarded by God, and that the child she is carrying, is the Messiah! The Son of God! He also told him that God wanted him to be Jesus’ human father, what an honor!

The scripture verse for today is well know and I would venture to say even many non-believers know or recognize the first part of the verse, “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.”

At the time of Jesus’ birth, the Jews were looking for a Messiah that would save them, but what exactly would this Messiah look like. The Jews were oppressed by the rulers of the cities and country during the time of the birth of Jesus and many looked for a mighty King to come to their rescue and save them, many were not looking for a baby to be born. Have you ever waited for something only to have it arrive looking totally different from your expectations? I remember as a kid hearing my parents talking about getting a new car, visuals of bright, shiny and sparkling vehicles raced through my thoughts, when the day came and the new car arrived, it was not as shiny as I had thought and it was not exactly new either. I remember my dad saying, “it’s new to us!” And though I didn’t quite understand it at the time I definitely learned it’s meaning as I grew older and realized “new” depends entirely on perspective. When we think about the time in history when Jesus was born there were lots of things not going well. God had provided for His people time and again, only to do it again. God didn’t love us any less due to our regression but was saddened by it and made the most difficult decision anyone has ever had to made, sacrificing His one and only Son to redeem all His children. Jesus has always been God’s Son, He was in the beginning and will be forevermore. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.” -John 1:1-2. When Jesus was born to Mary, it was only to become human, like you and I only without sin. The story of Jesus, His life and purpose was not to simply offer a quick fix or to win a battle, no Jesus came to once and for all win the war! Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice and conquered death and fulfills the second part of Matthew 1:21, “…because he will save his people from their sins.” As we celebrate the birth of Jesus this advent season, let us also remember the “why.”

“…I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” -John 10:10

Prayer: Oh Lord, not what I think I want, but what you know I need! Amen.

~Peace and Blessings~

References:

https://www.biblegateway.com

https://just84465.weebly.com/uploads/5/0/5/9/50596861/god_in_the_dock.pdf

December 8, 2018

Matthew 1:18-20

“Joseph her husband was a righteous man. Because he didn’t want to humiliate her, he decided to call off their engagement quietly.” -Matthew 1:19

“Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.” -Matthew 1:19 (NIV)

Bold:

• fearless before danger

• showing or requiring a fearless daring spirit

• standing out prominently

• being or set in

Today’s scripture tells us that Joseph was a righteous man. I like to think he was a sensitive man as well, he cared for Mary and her reputation by deciding on dismissing her quietly and not have her publicly humiliated or worse yet, be killed. He was a righteous man and according to the law could have had Mary stoned for her pregnancy, but instead he chose grace and mercy. He displayed BOLD grace when punishment was well within the law. I mentioned in an earlier post that God found “favor” in Mary and the He knew the kind of mother she would be to Jesus. I absolutely believe that Joseph also found favor in God. Even before the arrival of the Son of God, God knew the kind of father, earthly father Joseph would be to His Son, Jesus. Joseph already had the skills and insights as to how to treat others with grace and mercy. These two things would become cornerstones of Jesus’ ministry, Grace and Mercy! Mary and Joseph both loved God and we’re obedient to their call to parent, Jesus. Joseph was a “Grace Giving Radical” long before it was the right “thing” to do!

Both, Mary and Joseph BOLDLY lived their lives in service to God, practicing Grace and Mercy from the very beginning. They helped build a foundation of strong principles as parents and children of God. Although, this season is about the birth of Jesus and the fulfillment of prophecy, let’s pause today and recognize the significance and importance of the individual roles Mary and Joseph played in the story of the birth of the Messiah. Also, let’s look for situations to extend grace and mercy today.

“Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point.” – C.S. Lewis

Prayer:

Lord, may my life full of grace and mercy. Amen.

Thought provoking quote from C. S. Lewis:

“It may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird: it would be a jolly sight harder for it to learn to fly while remaining an egg. We are like eggs at present. And you cannot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg. We must be hatched or go bad.”

Be bold for Christ today!

~Peace and Blessings~

References:

https://www.biblegateway.com

Friday, December 7, 2018

Luke 1:34-38

“Then Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant. Let it be with me just as you have said.” -Luke 1:38

Servanthood:

• one that serves others

• one that performs duties about the person or home of a master or personal employer

• a public servant

• the condition of being a servant

When the angel spoke to Mary, he was direct and concise, he said to Mary, “You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” Luke 1:31-33. After hearing these words, Mary did have one question, “how can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel responded and explained “the how” then Mary, eagerly, without hesitation immediately responded by saying, “I am the Lord’s servant. Let it be with me just as you have said.” Luke 1:38

My first thought when reading this it felt different from Zechariah’s question to the angel that told him his wife would conceive, so I decided to research the verse in a commentary. And my first inclination was correct, it was different and the commentary says it best so here’s what it says, “The further information given her, upon her enquiry concerning the birth of this prince.

1. It is a just enquiry which she makes: “How shall this be? Luke 1:34. How can I now presently conceive a child” (for so the angel meant) “when Iknow not a man; must it therefore be otherwise than by ordinary generation? If so, let me now how?” She knew that the Messiah must be born of a virgin; and, if she must be his mother, she desires to know how. This was not the language of her distrust, or any doubt of what the angel said, but of a desire to be further instructed.” Matthew Henry Commentary (NRSV) *Reference below.

Have you ever experienced anything remotely close to the statements presented to Mary by the angel? Would any of us have responded so quickly and without thought to our own personal sacrifices or challenges? Many of us place ourselves in situations where we place others before ourselves, that could be dangerous and I’m thankful for those brave and courageous individuals. God knew Mary’s heart, He knew the kind of mother she would be and that why God found her “favorable.” Mary was not promised any special life considerations for obeying and accepting this gift from God. In fact, as I read today’s scripture and short story, Mary suffered greatly and if fact could have been stoned to death once it was known that she was pregnant. God prepared a way for Mary and even a companion in her cousin, Elizabeth during this time of waiting and expecting. Joseph also provided for Mary during this time and wanted to protect her as well as the child she was carrying. Mary shows us what servanthood looks like, is God calling you into servanthood? Taking a step in faith can seem very risky and difficult, make time for God, listen for His still small voice, accept the Holy Spirit’s nudges, spend time alone with God. The pastor of my church offered this statement a few weeks ago and I find it very helpful, “Praying is talking to God, Meditation is listening to God.” We need both in our relationship with God the Father.

“Hardship often prepares an ordinary person for an extraordinary destiny.”
― C.S. Lewis

Prayer:

Lord, do with me as you will. Amen.

~Peace and Blessings~

References:

https://www.biblegateway.com

https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/matthew-henry-comple