Wise Men Still Do

Monday Reading:
        Luke 2:1-7 No room in the inn. I stayed in the Country Inn and Suites this fall. Lots of places were displaying a No Vacancy sign. Thankfully, we had reservations. It makes me think what was an inn in Bethlehem and how many were there? Probably only one in that small town just a few miles outside of Jerusalem. An inn in that day may have only had one large room where straw was scattered on the floor for visitors to lay their bedding. Hmm. Just wondering if the innkeeper really didn't have room or noticing Mary's condition, he thought it better not to subject his other guests to the possibilities and probability that the night would bring. Who knows if he actually offered them the stable? What would the stable have been like? A town full of visitors, lots of animals filling a common stable in what was probably a damp cave opening. Did I say lots of animals? When was the last time the stable was cleaned? Was there fresh hay? A damp cave with lots of animals -pewwww!

Jesus came into a filthy stable and into a filthy world. Isaiah 64:6 says all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. But Isaiah 1:18 says though our sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. It always amazes me how the snow makes the ground look level. All the ditches and potholes are even with the ground. Our sin makes us all filthy but the blood of Jesus cleanses us white as snow and we are all on the same level.

Father, we thank you that you are not a respecter of persons but we are all equal before you. We are all as filthy rags until Your Son cleanses us, Then we are all white as snow and every sin is covered.
Blessed be Your name Lord Jesus. Amen.

Tuesday Reading:
         Luke 2:8-20 The shepherds were considered the lowest of the low in society's eyes. They lived out among their flocks, unkempt and unclean. Just working the third shift, talking, dozing, keeping watch over the sheep when unexpectedly the Angel of the Lord appears with the news of the Messiah. Then a host of heavenly angels appears and sings. Wow, what a night!

When my husband worked third shift, it was hard, dirty work, often in bad weather.  One Christmas it occurred to us that the shepherds were third shift workers. It made us aware that things can happen in the strangest circumstances. God knows our stiuati9ons. He's looking, watching, caring about us. He cared that lowly shepherds knew about the birth of His Son.

Lord, how amazing that You see us in all our circumstances and You care. You want to encourage us and show us great and mighty things if our hearts are right. Make us ever aware that You are here. In Jesus name. Amen

Wednesday Reading:
        Luke 2: 21-40 The circumcision was in eight days but the days of purification was longer depending on if a boy or girl was born. Mary was following God's laws from the beginning of Jesus birth.

Proverbs tell us to train up a child in the way he should go. A child needs a Godly home before it is born. Just because a baby enters the family is no reason to use it as an excuse to stop going to church or doing what God has commanded. This would be the time to ramp it up, to train the child. Verse 40 should be the story of every child in a Christian home.

Dear Lord, we pray for families everywhere that they train their children in the Lord. In Jesus name. Amen

Thursday Reading:
          Matthew 2:1-10 The wise men from the East  followed the star, but it seems to have gone away. They ended up in the natural place, Jerusalem. Herod had no knowledge of where the baby was to be born. There was no baby at his house. When he called the priests and scribes, they informed him of Bethlehem, but they didn't care enough to go. The wise men were still willing to seek Him.

Are we wise? Are we seeking Him or are we allowing people to influence our decisions?

Father, help us that we are only influenced by Your word. In Jesus name . Amen.

Friday Reading:
        Matthew 2:11-23 The political leader of the day was afraid for his job. The religious leaders didn't care about God's Son so long as their coffers were full. The babies died for the security of their politics. Sound familiar?

IN the name of unity and fairness prayer has been disallowed in schools since the 1960's. Abortion followed . Now millions of our babies are dead. The terrorism of 9/11 brought scripture from our politicians but Isaiah 9:10 is a scripture of defiance, not of repentance. Now the religious leaders of our nation; have allowed a Muslim prayer service in our National Cathedral. II Chronicles 7:14 If my people....

Father, show us how to repent. I'm not sure we even know where to start. In Jesus name. Amen.

Mary, Did You Know?

His name shall be called Wonderful, Counseler, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6b

Every Jewish family probably knew the passage and longed for the coming of the Messiah to restore their land, but who had any idea it would happen the way it did? Do we have any idea how it happened? In the next few days let's explore the reality of the miracle of our Savior's birth. Remember your comments are always welcome.

Monday's Readings:  Remember to read the entire passage and let the Lord show you the verse(s) that will be significant in your life. The verse(s) I comment on is the verse the Lord had for me. That's why comments and sharing are significant, so we all may benefit.

      Luke 1:1-25 (vs. 6,7) Both Zecharias and Elizabeth were faithful to God. They kept His commandments, but it seems they were being judged by the community because Elizabeth was barren. She had no children. The people took it as a sign that Zecharias and Elizabeth were out of favor with God. Not true. God was waiting for the right time to use them both to demonstrate His power and to reveal His message.

It's hard to wait when we are discouraged and ridiculed, when people don't understand. But... we must understand God has a plan. Whether the issue is children, husband, wife, weight, beauty, money, whatever, God is in control and He has a plan for each of us.

Father, help me not to rush into things, but live by faith knowing, You are in control and You have the best plan for me. In Jesus name. Amen.

Tuesday Readings: Luke1: 26-38 (vs 38) Mary believed the angel and wanted to follow God's plan. But does she have any idea the hardships it will bring? I would think the first thing she might do would have been to tell her mom. Have you ever wondered how Mary's parents figured in the story?

Growing up in the '50's and 60's we sometimes saw teenage girls "disappear". You know, Aunt Sue or Cousin Jane,  who lives in Somewhere was sick and needed the girl to help out a little while. Six to eight months later the girl reappears. Did you ever wonder why the angel mentioned Cousin Elizabeth to Mary? Could it be that Mary's mom and dad sent her to the distant hill country because they couldn't believe Mary's story? I'm sure they didn't want their daughter to be the talk of the community. Why did Elizabeth hide herself? Could it be that if she had told she was expecting in her old age the people would have deemed her the crazy old lady?

Father , help me to be as Mary, willing to follow You no matter the hardships that come. In Jesus name. Amen.

Wednesday Reading:
      Luke 1: 39-56 (vs49).  Mary saw how great a thing God had done for her - her salvation, allowing her to be the mother of the Savior, the Messiah, and providing a friend in Elisabeth who understood.

When things seem overwhelming, and I'm sure Mary was feeling overwhelmed as she traveled to Elisabeth's, look for the great things God is doing in your life. Remember He has a plan for you just as He had one for Mary and Elisabeth.

Father, thank you for all you are doing in my life. Help me to cultivate the good things and not destroy the joy with doubts and complaining. In Jesus name. Amen.

Thursday Reading:
      Luke 1:57-80 (vs 74,75) At the birth of John the Baptist,  Zecharias called to remembrance the promise God had made to Abraham, the promise that God would deliver Israel from the hands of the enemy and they would serve God without fear in holiness and righteousness.

We who are Abraham's children by virtue of the new birth in Christ have the same promises. He will always be with us and we should serve Him without fear, trusting that He is in control and knows all we face. Isaiah 41:10

Thank you Lord, for being in control. Thank you that we can trust You to handle every matter. Help me remember "No Fear" in Jesus name. Amen.

Friday Reading:
      Matthew 1:18-25 (vs19,24)   Joseph thought to put her away privately. In a day when an engagement was almost as binding as a wedding, Joseph wanted to break the engagement without causing her shame or endanger her life. Mary had gone to Elisabeth's. All this seemed a good way to solve a "problem" but God had other plans.

God sometimes interrupts our lives to bring about the best plan. Though Joseph and Mary and Jesus were going to face ridicule all their lives, it was the best plan for the entire world. God loved Mary and Joseph but He loves us too. We needed Mary and Joseph to carry out God's plan. We  need to rise from our sleep and let God use us in this our day - for such a time  as this  (Esther 4:14).

Father, help me to know how to humble myself so You can use me to further Your kingdom. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of Your plan. In Jesus name. Amen.

 

Blessings,

Gail

     

How Do I Know God's Plan for Me?

 

And Mary said. Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. Luke 1:38a

From the time we are old enough to play fireman and baby dolls, we are asked “What do you want to be when you grow up?” That’s really the wrong question.

Mary was unique in that she was to become the mother of our Lord. That was God’s plan for Mary. Actually, God has a unique plan for each of us. Mary is the example of the type of person we want to be. She has some qualities about her that allowed her to be strong and go through tough times to fulfill God’s plan for her life. It wasn’t the pretty Christmas picture of Mary and Joseph and the babe sweetly lying in a manger with halos all around. Mary’s first priority was to be the handmaid, the servant, of the Lord. That should our first priority as well.

What qualities did Mary possess that helped her follow God’s plan?

• She demonstrated by her purity and her righteousness that she wanted to love and serve God.
• She demonstrated a desire to live with a divine purpose. Malachi 2:15 would have been a familiar verse to her . . . That he might seek a godly seed. . . . She saw her purpose as raising up children to the Lord.
• She demonstrated that she put the Lord above everything and everyone else because she risked family, friends and fiancé to be the mother of God’s Son.  

We all have our ideas about what we want to be; a fireman, a policeman, a teacher, a nurse, etc. but the real question is, “What is God’s unique plan for our lives?” If we, like Mary, possess these qualities we will know God’s plan; not necessarily by an angel’s appearance, but by God’s direction through His Word.

Want you let us know how God is showing you His unique plan for your life?

I am currently reading The Women of Christmas by Liz Curtis Higgs. Her book is the inspiration,along with a little plagerism, for today’s blog. Hope you get a chance to read it as well for more insight into God’s unique plan for each of us.