Number

“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

Psalm 90:12

At the beginning of every year, I take time to ponder over the year ahead and to evaluate my life.  After spending time in prayer, I write down my list of goals for the year.  When I was younger, it was a list of resolutions.  However, resolutions were promises that I couldn’t keep.  Once I broke it, guilt and inadequacy would contend for places in my heart.  After years of missing the mark, I stopped making that list.

However, God has taught me that if I aim at nothing that is exactly what I will achieve.  Nothing.  He has taught me to evaluate my life and to let Him reveal to me what He wants for it.  Then He has shown me to put the first things first.  This simply means put the things that truly matter first in my life and prioritize my time around them.  When we put first things first, it quickly reveals the lower priorities in life.  It stops us from trying to do many things.  We can’t do many things to the glory of God.  We were never meant to go at the breakneck speed of our culture.

Psalm 90:12 says, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”  This is my paraphrase of what I heard Jan Silvious say one time, “We number anything that is valuable.  Teach us to number our days, Lord.”  You and I can’t assume we have forever.  These days are fleeting.  We must learn how to deal with life God’s way so that when we present ourselves to God, we prove that we have a heart of wisdom.  When we number our days, we realize that we can’t do it all.  There are some things that we have to give up.  Just as our children can’t be into every activity – drama, chorus, baseball, basketball, soccer, swim – neither can we.  From our culture filled with a multitude of choices and opportunities, we have to pick the most important things.

My list contains many different categories for my key relationships with God, my husband, my children, ministry (you), service, health, friends, other family, church, and finances.  It contains things I’d like to achieve as well as things that I would like to experience.  It contains my legacy that I would like to give my children.  It also contains reminders for the love that I want to demonstrate.  This list helps me to choose wisely with my time and energy.  It helps me to live on purpose and to have as much of God as I can have on this side of heaven.

So beloved, are you willing to join me in this way to live on purpose?  What would be on your list?  What are the most important things for you to do, to be, or to experience in the new year?  What matters to you the most?  Take some time to pray and then if you feel comfortable, share with me.  Or you can share on the blog on the website if you think others can benefit from the wisdom God has given to you.  It is my prayer that you will take the time to evaluate your life and let God reveal His guidance to you.  Number your days, for they are precious.  Each day is a treasure and a gift from God.

Pray with me:  Oh, Lord, teach us to number our days so we gain a heart of wisdom.  We realize that our days are valuable.  Thank You for the gift of another day!  We do not know when our days will end.  Nor do we know how long our health will fail us where can’t live out all of our dreams.  We want to be wise men and women who have a heart for You and insight into Your throne room view.  Teach us to aim for a life that pleases You and brings You glory.  Show us how to live a life of purpose.   It’s in the Name above all names that we pray, in Jesus’ Name, Yeshua’s Name.  Amen.

Reflect

“As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.”

Proverbs 27:19

I’m one of the few people who still send out Christmas cards and take the time to send a Christmas letter.  I have not stepped into the electronic age of sending it through email or facebook.  Plus there is just something about a letter that you can hold and read.  Every year someone replies to me and tells me how much it meant to them and encouraged them.  However, I know God has me do it for me, too.

You see, when I write that Christmas letter, I am taking the time to reflect on what has happened over the past year.  I think about what God has done.  I think about what God has taught me.  I think about how I have experienced God.  I think about the new friendships that God brought into my life and the old friendships that have gone through bumpy times but still decided that the relationship was the most important thing.

I ask God to show me how I made an eternal difference through the past year. What treasure did I lay up in heaven?  Who did I love with the love of Christ?  God’s Word says in Proverbs 27:19, “As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.”  What is the reflection of my life?  Is it showing that I am like David and have a heart for God?

In the Christmas letter, I select my favorite photos of the year.  By looking through the pictures, I remember what God has done.  Each year, I give Him praise and glory for His protection and healing of my loved ones.  I stand amazed at how far He brought me and transformed me to be more like His Son and less like me in my selfishness and sin.

By taking the time to reflect, I’m invoking my memories.  Memories are essential for learning.  Without a memory, we would not have a foundation to learn anything new.  Remembering what God has done in our lives will give us hope for what He will do in the future.  It prepares me for the next year.  I don’t know what the next year holds, but God knows.  He knows how to equip me for it.  He knows the trials and battles as well as my victories and mighty exploits.  He knows how I will once again join in the exhilaration of participating with Him and experiencing the divine in some feat that is beyond me.  He knows my destiny.

My job is to know Him.  By knowing Him and building a relationship with Him, I will be prepared for the days to come.  When I choose to reflect on what God has done, I’m building a foundation for the new thing that He wants to build on top of it.  My foundation has to be secure.  My trust has to be complete.  He has proven faithful so far; He will prove faithful again.  He has shown Himself mighty in these things; I can trust Him to do even more.

So beloved, when was the last time that you reflected on what God has done in your life?  How have you seen His hand in your life?  He is very much involved in it.  Although you can’t see Him with your physical eyes, He can give you discernment so you know without a doubt that you have seen Him work in your life.  Take some time to reflect over the past year.  Think about how it looked from God’s throne room.  There won’t be any criticism for the things you did wrong or berating for the things that you didn’t do.  If you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, then He has covered your sin debt.  If God convicts you of sin, repent and move on.  Remember He is the God who loves you and wants the best for you.  He doesn’t want to rip you to pieces and leave you useless.  So, pray and ask God to reveal to you what He did.  You can even take the time to write it down as an encouragement for when you may need it later.

Pray with me:  Father God, we praise You!  We want lives that reflect our hearts for You!  We want a heart that is pure and strong in You, Lord.  Help us to carve out the time to reflect on what You have done in our lives.  We don’t want to take for granted what You have done.  You don’t owe us anything.  We are not entitled to anything.  But You love us.  You have made us Your children.  So we recount what You have done.  We remember You.   It is foundational for what You want to do in our lives this year.  May we learn from it and be encouraged by it.  It’s in Your precious Son’s Name, Yeshua’s Name, we pray.  Amen.

The Outwitted’s Rage

“Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."

When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him."  So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called my son."

When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.  Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: "A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more."

Matthew 2:7-8, 13-18

King Herod was a monster.  He was a brutal, power-thirsty ruler.  Out of fear that they might take away his kingdom, he had his wife and three sons killed.  Out of his desire for greatness, he rebuilt Solomon’s temple.  Out of his desire to be mourned, he ordered that at his death that a representative from every Israeli family be put to death so there would be wailing when he died.  Thankfully, his command was not carried out by his son.

When the Magi visited him and told him they were looking for the King of the Jews and the chief priests told him Micah 5:2 said this king would be born in Bethlehem, King Herod was disturbed.  He felt a powerful threat to his throne.

He was afraid this newborn baby would one day take away his throne and be king.  He had good reasons to be scared.  He was not the rightful heir to the throne of David.  He was partly Jewish.  His father was a descendant from Esau, not Jacob.  Herod had an Arabian mother, and it was commonly held that one could only be a Jew when one was born from a Jewish mother.  The Jews resented his appointment by Rome.  The religious leaders condemned him for his brutality.  The Pharisees despised any ruler who despised the Law.   All of his subjects resented his excessive taxation.  So when King Herod was disturbed, all of Jerusalem was disturbed with him.  Many must have been afraid to arouse his suspicion and stayed to clear to not receive his wrath of terror.

So Herod lied to the Magi.  He told them when they found this king, to report back to him so that he could go and worship him, too.  He never intended to bend the knee or bear a gift.  He thought he had devised a plan to uncover this would-be king and destroy him.

When the wise men were warned of Herod’s treacherous plans, they did not return to him but took a different route home.  So Herod devised another plan to destroy this infant king.  However, he didn’t understand that he was fighting the King of Kings and the LORD of hosts.  God supernaturally intervened and sent his angel to warn Joseph in a dream to take Jesus and his mother and escape to Egypt.

When Herod realized that he had been outwitted, he did what weak evil leaders do.  He acted in cruel rage.  He slaughtered those precious baby boys in Bethlehem.  Jeremiah’s Scripture was fulfilled and wailing rang in the homes and streets.  Herod didn’t mind spilling innocent blood to secure his throne and neither does satan.  The evil one used Herod as his vessel to attempt to kill the Messiah, the one who would crush his head. 

My precious friend, God opened my eyes through this story.  I’m sure you saw that God protected His Son and fulfilled His plan.  God sent an angel to Joseph 4 times to tell him what to do and ensured provision for His Son.  God made the rules of this natural world.  He can work naturally or supernaturally to make sure that His will is carried out.  He always wins.  God can’t be outwitted by anyone.  Right?

This is when my eyes were opened.  Since the evil powers can’t outwit God and God always wins, they have only one recourse – to act evil and unleash their fury.   In their desperation, they resort to treachery.  All they usually gain is a sick satisfaction to have tormented innocent lives.  Treachery and ruthlessness doesn’t gain the ultimate power that evil truly desires.  When your rule is weak and you are obsessed to keep it, atrocious and vile become your companions.  However, in God’s absolute rule, then protection, outwitting the enemy, love, and kindness encompass Him.  Seeing this jewel of wisdom made me once again respond in worship.  Beloved, do you see how wonderful our God is?  He is holy and perfect.  He never is outsmarted, out maneuvered, or outwitted.  No one gets the best of our God.  He never acts out of weakness or vileness.  His ways are perfect!  Hallelujah!

Pray with me:  Father God, we give you our battles.  Outwit the enemy who is trying to best us once again.  We ask for Your protection in our lives and bar the evil one from us.  Bless us with Your gifts from above.  We ask Lord, that You restrain the enemy from his anger where he has hurt so many innocent lives.  Restrain his fury.  Bring more precious lives under Your wings and in Your shelter may they find salvation.  It’s in Your precious Son’s Name, Yeshua’s Name, we pray.  Amen.

Today a Savior was Born!

“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”

Luke 2:11

Merry Christmas! O, precious friend, what a great day it is! Today we celebrate the greatest gift ever given – God’s Son born in the city of David. He was the Christ, the Messiah. The angels announced to the shepherds that a Savior was born to them and for us, too. The greatest King was born in the humblest of settings. This day changed the entire world forever. This baby was like no other. This baby was God’s Son, Immanuel, God with us.

The question each of us must answer is will we receive this gift?  Will we believe that Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah that God gave because He loved the world so much.  What will you do with this gift?  Will you believe in Him and have everlasting life?  Will you worship Him like the angels in complete adoration?  Will you partake in the joy that He brings?  Will you believe in Him and give Him every bit of yourself that you can give back to Him?  Will you give Him your all?  My friend, these are the questions that I am pondering after focusing on my Savior’s birth day by day for these past few weeks.

Thank you so much for your support of Christ Compels Ministry. From Shauna, Kendra, Melody, Peggy, our guest devotion writers, Shirley Seivers and myself, please know how much we love you and value you. Besides Jesus, you are my favorite gift this year. Thank you for your faithfulness to read these devotions and feed your soul on the Word of God.

As we enjoy our day with our loved ones and opening up presents, let’s keep Jesus the center of all that we do. May our words honor Him and please Him. O Come, Let us Adore HIM, Christ the LORD!

Pray with me: Father God, we worship You! We just come to adore You. Thank You for preparing our hearts for this Christmas season. Thank You for sending Your Son to save Your people from our sins. It’s in Your precious Son’s Name, Yeshua’s Name, we pray. Amen.

Holy and Joyful Night

“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

Tonight is the night of Christmas Eve masses and services around the world.  2,000 years ago angels came from heaven’s realms to a field in Bethlehem.  We do not know what time of day Christ was born.  It is probably because the angels appeared to the shepherds at night that I have always thought the shepherds came to see Jesus after midnight on Christmas Eve, but before sunrise on Christmas Day.

For me, Christmas Eve night is the most holy night of the year.  It is a time to remember when God became a man, an infant.  It is a time to remember the angels appearing to the shepherds and how the glory of the Lord shown all around them.  It is a time to read Luke 2 with the family – or if they have memorized it for them to say it.  It is a time to gather around the piano while my mom plays and to sing every Christmas carol.  It is a time to worship just like the shepherds did so long ago.

The angels brought news of great joy.  It was mega joy that caused an annual celebration that has lasted for two millennium!  The angels carried God’s message, the best news of all time.  It was not just for Jews.  It was for all races.  It was for people of that time, for people in every generation, and for the people yet to be born.

My dear friend, as I have written these devotions to prepare our hearts for Christ’s birth, I have prayed for you and me to have a Christmas like no other.  May we not focus on the gifts that we are giving, but rejoice in the greatest gift given to everyone in the world.  Through Jesus, we have salvation and everlasting joy!  Through any circumstance...Through any situation...Make this a night of worship as we focus on giving praise for God sending His one and only Son.

Pray with me:  Father God, we give You glory!  Thank You for sending Your Son Jesus as a baby.  We worship You and praise You for Your infinite wisdom and everlasting love to redeem us!  Bless this time with family and may we open our doors to the lonely and alone so that everyone knows Your love and joy.  It’s in Your precious Son’s Name, Yeshua’s Name, we pray.  Amen.

Gifts for a King

“After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.”

Matthew 2:9-12

The Magi had travelled many days and nights in search of the one who would fulfill the prophecy of the Messiah to Israel.  They had left their families, homes, country, and comforts to seek the promised child.  When they came to Jerusalem, they expected others to be anticipating their own country’s Savior.  So they went to the holy city of Jerusalem and asked, “Where was the one who was born the King of the Jews?”

King Herod lied and told them to make a careful search for the child and report back to him so he could worship him, too.  The Magi left him and went on their way.  They saw the star rise and go ahead of them until it stopped over the place where Joseph, Mary, and baby Jesus were now living.  When they saw the star guide them to Jesus’ home they were overjoyed.  The Gospel writer Matthew actually uses two Greek words to describe their joy.  He uses the words “sphodra megas” which mean “exceedingly great.” Can you imagine the thrill when they were divinely led to find this child that they had hoped for so long to see?  The star made it so easy to find Him.  There was no mistaking who the child was.  God Himself had pointed out His Son to them.

They came into the house and immediately started to worship Him.  Humbled, they bowed down before this King and worshipped Him.  They understood who He was and all that He would mean to His people.  When foreign dignitaries appear before a King, they will give gifts to show honor.  They opened their treasures they had prepared to give to this toddler King.  As the lids were lifted from these treasures chest, the aroma of the spices filled the room and the gold glittered capturing every eye.  Not one word is recorded of Mary and Joseph which makes me wonder if their jaws were dropped and tongues held speechless at this moment.

The Magi’s three gifts had their own meaning.  We see great thought had been put into each gift.  Gold is a gift for a king.  Gold has been precious throughout all times, cultures, and countries.  Jesus is the King of Kings.  One day, He will return and all will see Him and know who He is.  Every knee will bow before the King of Glory.

Incense is a gift for a priest.  It signified worship and atonement for sins.  Ancient people burned incense believing that it carried their prayers to heaven.  Frankincense oil is also thought to have stimulating, toning, and warming properties. The ancient world used it for treating depression.  The Messianic prophecy in Isaiah 61:1 tells us that Jesus came to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness the prisoners.  Nothing is more imprisoning than depression.  Jesus came to bring joy to the hearts of every man.  He came to free us from the darkness that tries to envelope us.

Myrrh was probably the strangest gift.  It is considered a wound healer because of its strong antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties.  The Chinese used it to treat wounds, bleeding, and painful swelling.  Never forget that one of Jesus’ primary missions was to heal our wounds.  Since myrrh comes from a tree that grows abundantly in Northern Africa, the Egyptians found multiple uses for it like incense, holy ointments, medicines, and to embalm the dead.  This embalming ointment signified that Jesus came to die for the world.  His primary mission was to die on the cross as payment for our sins.  All three gifts were tangible symbols of Jesus’ mission for mankind.  All three gifts would have been great assets for when the holy family had to flee to Egypt to escape King Herod’s wrath, too.

Because of the Magi’s gifts and recognition that Jesus was the greatest gift to the world, we now give gifts to our loved ones at Christmas time.  But did you notice how much significance each gift had?  Christmas is about giving gifts that have meaning and great value.  I’m not saying take all the toys back to the stores. I’m saying be sure to remember to give a gift of great value this Christmas.  For example, I’ve asked my children this year to give me a gift using their talents.  I’m giving them a chance to use their God-given talents and not shelve them.  I also don’t want to get caught up in the gift giving and completing my Christmas list and forget to give a gift of great worth to the ones I love and to my Savior and King.  My heart’s desire is to give them something of eternal value.  If your heart is like mine, then let’s ask God what gift of value we can give this Christmas to Him and to invest in another’s life.

Pray with me:  We worship You, Jesus!  You are King and Lord of all.  You are worthy and we bow down to worship You, too.  You came to heal and bring joy.  You came to be our priest and sacrifice for us and carry our prayers to heaven.  Most amazing of all, You, our King, came to die for us.  How can we ever thank You enough and bestow upon You all that we owe You?  Speak to our hearts this Christmas and show us what gift we can give You.  Teach us to give gifts that have real meaning and true value.  It’s in the Name above all names, in Jesus’ Name, Yeshua’s Name, we pray.  Amen.



The Magi and the Star

 

"After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?  We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.’

When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.  When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born.  ‘In Bethlehem in Judea,’ they replied, ‘for this is what the prophet has written:

‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ’

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared.  He sent them to Bethlehem and said, ‘Go and search carefully for the child.  As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.’ ” 

Matthew 2:1-8

Scholars tell us Magi were scientists, mathematicians, historians, and astrologers.  They were the most powerful group of advisors in the Babylonian empire.  As a teenager, Daniel was taken to Babylon when Jerusalem was conquered.  He became an influential leader in the kingdom.  Daniel wrote his prophecies about 500 years before Jesus was born.  In Daniel 9:25-26, he prophesied 483 years would elapse from the issuing of the decree to rebuild Jerusalem until the birth, life, and death of the Messiah.  This complete length of time was fulfilled.  The Magi from the East knew to search for the King of the Jews through this prophecy in Daniel.  Their forefathers had taken the proper measures to record and testify of the one true God.

Although the Magi were men of great wealth and means, their pride and riches did not stop them from traveling from far away to kneel down and worship a baby.  They traveled approximately 700 miles to visit and worship Jesus.  Contrast that distance with that of the Jewish leadership.  It was only 7 miles from Jerusalem to Bethlehem; they did not even know the time had come!  They possessed the Scriptures which told the time (Daniel 9:25) and the place (Micah 5:2) of Jesus’ birth.  Yet, they were not even looking for the Messiah.  How tragic to be so thoughtless about God’s Word with it so available.

God purposely sent this star to guide the Magi to see His Son.  He simply guided star–watchers through a star.  He used what they were most familiar with to lead them.  They had followed this star thousands of miles.

Since stars are more visible at night, probably most of their travel was in darkness.  While the rest of the world was sleeping, they were experiencing the divine.  We don’t know where this star originated.  We don’t know if it was really a comet or one of the planets in our solar system.  We don’t know if God, who created every star and threw them on the canvas of His nighttime sky, called one star out for this special assignment.

However, we know that for those who believed His Word and considered it that God provided signs to them in ways that would be unmistakable to them.  These men knew the stars.  They knew when there was a shift or a change.  They knew when one was leading them to the King they sought.  They had the faith in God to leave their homes behind and follow that star wherever it led them.  They didn’t know where they were going or how long they would be gone.  They just knew they had to leave it all behind and seek what they desired most.  They had to seek the King of the Jews.

O beloved, does this not speak to you?  We know this King of the Jews.  We should be willing to risk all to follow Him as He leads us.  We may not have a star in the midnight sky, but we do not study the stars.  So He speaks to us in ways that are our language and what we know and understand.  As we celebrate this Christmas and head into the New Year, let’s be committed to seek Him, believe that He will lead us, and then follow Him with all that we have – no matter where He takes us.

Pray with me:  Our Most High God, how encouraging it is to see these wise men who knew Your Word, Your plan, and Your will.  They were willing to leave it all behind and head out into the great unknown.  They followed You because You presented to them that starry host, that which they knew, to lead them.  Lord, You lead us in similar ways.  You lead us through Your Word.  You lead us through Your Spirit speaking to our hearts.  You also lead us who have eyes to see through signs.  Don’t let us fabricate signs out of nothingness, but give us the discernment to know the signs You give us and the word You speak to us to lead us.  Help us follow You in complete trust and give all that we have to follow Your path of life for us.  It’s in the Name of the Most High King, in Jesus’ Name, Yeshua’s Name, we pray.  Amen.

Excerpt from the Jesus Lives Bible study

A Treasure to Ponder

“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.”

Luke 2:15-19

God’s Word does not record the many details between Joseph’s dream and this holy day in Bethlehem.  I am looking forward to the heavenly version of the DVD to answer some questions.  Did her parents support Mary, or were they ashamed?  Was her labor quick and easy?  What was Joseph’s reaction when they arrived in Bethlehem to find there was no room for them in the inn?  Did he berate himself for not taking better care of his family?  Was he sulking in self-pity thinking he could not do anything right since he allowed the Son of God to be born in the animals’ quarters with a cattle feeding trough for a bed?  Or was he full of faith knowing that every part of the journey was as God had planned it?  Either way, they had the baby in their arms.  There was no news from God yet.  How emotional for them when the shepherds arrived.  Until the shepherds arrived, they thought no one else knew the Savior of the world had just been born.  The shepherds shared in their joy.  Their spirits must have leaped with joy listening to the story of the angels in the fields praising God for the Savior who had been born.

How good of God to send them confirmation on this day!  It had been nine months since Gabriel’s visit to Mary.  It had been many months since Elizabeth greeted her, and John had leapt in her womb.  Joseph’s dream of the angel was many months ago, too.  God was not obligated to speak to her again.  Yet, He did through the visit of the shepherds as they worshiped and gave glory to God.  It must have reassured them that God was pleased with the circumstances of His Son’s birth.

Through the shepherds’ visit, God also encouraged them.  I’m sure it was tough to journey to Bethlehem while Mary was in her last days of pregnancy.  She either felt every bump on that road or was too excited about the days to come to mind her discomfort.  Can you imagine the pressure that she must have felt to be the perfect mother?  There were no secret mothering mistakes from the all-seeing, all-knowing God.  He knew her every deed, word, and thought – yikes!  I don’t know any woman who feels that she could pass that mothering test!

Scripture does not record the conversations between the shepherds and Joseph and Mary.  However, verse 19 tells us of Mary’s reaction to their visit.  It says, “But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”

The Greek word for “ponder” is sumballo which means “to throw or put together, casting many things together and considering them as one.”  Mary was recounting the many events of the past year and considering them as one.  She mulled over everything that had happened to Joseph and to her.  She was pondering what Almighty God had done.  I think it was a moment where God took Mary’s breath away.  She might have said, “Who is this God?  So this is how God operates in people’s lives.  You did it, God.  You did it in style.  You amaze me.”  In my Bible study group, my friend Wilma described this verse as Mary crafting her mental baby book of Jesus.  Mary was collecting her mental snapshots from the angel’s first appearance to the shepherds’ visit.

Just by being a child of God, you and I also have mental snapshots of the times that He has acted in our lives.  These moments are a treasure.  The Almighty God of the universe has acted in our lives!  When was the last time you pondered what God Almighty has done in your life?

Pray with me:  Father God, You were so tender with Mary and Joseph.  You knew that they needed confirmation.  You knew that they needed reassurance and encouragement.  You are so good!  The story of Your Son’s birth is exquisite!  Every detail was meticulously planned.  Every moment was in accordance with Your perfect plan.

Lord, we know that You have been active in so many ways in our lives.  Some of them may be concealed to us today because You have done so much, but let us ponder what You have done.  Let us be in awe of how You work in people’s lives.  You carefully craft the experiences.  You arrange everything perfectly.  You accomplish what You desire.  Just like Mary was willing to let You do whatever You saw best, so are we.  Lord, we give You the freedom to fulfill Your perfect plan for our lives.  It’s in Your precious Son’s Name, Yeshua’s Name, we pray.  Amen.

Excerpt from the Jesus Lives Bible study

God’s News Reports

“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.” 

                                                                                                                        Luke 2:8-16

Jesus’ birth was the most important event since the creation of the world.  Yet, the people thought the census was the biggest news of that time.  Innkeepers and merchants were filling their money pouches with the travelers’ money.  Most people did not know the Son of God had left heaven to become the Son of Man.  The Bethlehem news team didn’t report His birth in the 6:00 news.  The biggest news of all time was not immediately reported.  Yet, we are still talking about it 2,000 years later.  I wonder how often I have been oblivious to what God is doing in my time.  Secular reporters will not understand the significance of God’s current activity on earth.  They won’t capture it for the evening news or the front page of the newspaper.  I want to know what God is doing in my day and be positioned to hear God’s news reports.

Isn’t it interesting that God revealed Jesus’ birth to shepherds, not the religious leaders or the king?  Shepherds were at the bottom of the social ladder.  Their work made them ceremonially unclean.  They symbolized ordinary people.  David, Jesus’ ancestor, was called from a shepherd’s life as the youngest son.  Typically the youngest son in the family was the shepherd.  These shepherds probably were not old men with long, gray beards.  David also called God his shepherd symbolizing God’s loving care.  Additionally, God promised to send a Shepherd to take care of the people (Ezekiel 34:23).

Unlike when the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and Zechariah, when this angel appeared to the shepherds, the visible manifestation of the glory of God appeared, too.  It shone around the shepherds, not the angel.  They were strong men.  They defended their sheep from a lion, a bear, or any wild animal.  Yet, they were terrified.  We also should not take it lightly to read about the glory of God appearing.  We forget our God is holy and all-powerful, stronger than any force we have ever seen.  These men had a good reason to recognize the inferiority of their own power to the glory before them.

The shepherds did not delay.  They did not hesitate or plan their journey properly.  They were so excited that they quickly ran to see the baby lying in a manger.  Scripture does not record the conversations between the shepherds and Joseph and Mary.  However, we know that when they returned home, they spread the word to others; they shared all that they had been told about this child.  Although they were common, unclean, and young, their occupation of shepherding was close to God’s heart.  They gave praise to God for His activity that they had witnessed.

We see age, societal status, and wealth were not determining factors for the people who received revelation of Jesus’ birth.  Clearly, Jesus came for all people.  However, we see two contributing factors to God’s selection of people to whom He announced His Son’s birth:  God’s sovereignty and being positioned closely to His heart.  How do we know that these particular men were close to His heart?  We know by their response; they responded with praise and were willing to go where He led.

Pray with me:  Dear Heavenly Lord, it is our desire to hear Your news reports.  We want to hear because we want to know what’s on Your mind.  We want to be as near to You as a human can be.  We want to be so close to You that if it’s possible we overhear Your conversations with Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the angels.  So God help us to live daily with a response of praise and thanksgiving to all You bring.  Help us to be willing to go wherever You lead us.   It’s in the Name above all names, in Jesus’ Name, Yeshua’s Name, we pray.  Amen.

Excerpt from the Jesus Lives Bible study

Birth of a King

“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.”

Luke 2:1-7

Joseph and Mary barely knew each other months ago.  Now they were quickly learning about each other.  The 90-mile journey through the hills and over the mountains aided that process - nothing like a road trip to get to know someone.  I imagine Joseph was patient and gentle with Mary as she was full with child.  Since they were both trusted by God with an unprecedented, huge responsibility, they had to trust each other.

From this Scripture, we see that Jesus fulfilled the prophecy of the city of His birth.  In order to fulfill prophecy, the Messiah must be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2.)  God who holds the future willed for the Roman ruler Caesar Augustus to call a census that required each man to return to the town of his ancestors.  Joseph was from the line of David.  David’s hometown was Bethlehem, which means “house of bread.”  The Bread of Life was born in the city of bread.

Also in this Scripture, we see the glory of heaven enter the world through a lowly stable.  His birthplace was not a palace…No designer clothes for a King here…No bassinet from the best store in the village…He was born into the rough, calloused hands of a Jewish carpenter.  His first smells were animal manure.  Nothing looked to human eyes to be divine here.

It makes me wonder how many times I have experienced the majesty of God’s hand in my life in the mundane days of my life.  I have experienced God in the commonness of my life - not with angels proclaiming the way or a holy glow to settle in the room that is visible to my eyes.  God has never worked in the grand way of a Hollywood movie in my life.  I’ve had to train my spiritual eyes to see Him.  The little bit that I have seen makes me long for more of His presence in the ordinariness of my life.  I pray that you and I are willing to worship Him in our daily lives.  I pray that we grab hold of all the time available to spend with God – while we vacuum, drive, wash the dishes, apply our make-up, bathe the children, or mow the yard.  May we have the spiritual eyes to recognize when the divine wants to pervade our lives.  May we recognize that this baby who came as the lowest of servants came to bring hope to every man of every economic and social status.  May we also recognize that He is coming back in all of His splendor as the King of Kings!  One day everyone will see Him in all of His glory.

Pray with me:  Dear Heavenly Lord, what a wonderful story of Your Son’s birth.  As we prepare to celebrate Christmas, help us to remember why we celebrate - because 2,000 years ago, You so loved the world that You sent Your one and only Son.  He came as a human to be just like us.  The human eye could not detect all that You had divinely arranged.  He was born into poverty.  His first smells were the stench of the stable.  He was a lowly servant.  He experienced everything that we experience so He would be acquainted with our sufferings and our temptations.  You know what it is like to hurt, to be hungry, to be wronged, to be treated unfairly, and to fight our flesh nature that leads us to sin.  You overcame all of these things and redeemed us!  Hallelujah!  Thank You so much, Jesus, for all that You have done!  It’s in Your Name that we pray, Yeshua’s Name.  Amen.

Excerpt from the Jesus Lives Bible study

In Those Days

“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.”

Luke 2:1-4

Most of my mother’s grandchildren have all memorized Luke 2 in second grade.  I held my breath when my middle daughter Sophia had to say it with her whole class at the Christmas program at school.  We worked day and night, car rides and bath times on those verses.  My youngest daughter Victoria is not even in second grade yet, and she can say the first verses because she heard them so many times.  It was one of the biggest accomplishments of my life, and it is still Sophia’s favorite passage of the Bible because she knows how hard she worked on it, too.

In the Christmas program, the children line up on stage and say it without an index card or other aide.  The two teachers get them started to help them stay synchronized and then lean back in the pews.  They join in if the children get off rhythm or they know it is a part that has been difficult for them.  However, for the most part, those darling children are saying those many, many verses by themselves.  It is my favorite part of the Christmas program.  I always say, “Tuition at a Christian school ($ this much), uniforms for school ($ this much), but God’s Word written on your child’s heart, priceless.”

Luke 2 starts with “In those days, Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.”  The Roman Empire ruled the world at the time of Jesus’ birth.  The Empire stretched from Britain in the north, to Spain and Portugal in the west, into Africa and Egypt in the south, and as far east as Syria.  Caesar Augustus ruled.

Caesar ordered the census which would be the basis for the Roman system of taxation.  He wanted to generate revenue.  He ordered the census so they could apportion amounts for each provincial governor to raise.  It may have taken a while for his decree to travel from his residence by horse across the Mediterranean Sea to the Roman outpost of Israel.

Caesar spoke and millions of people started to migrate to their hometowns.  His words mobilized the people.  Without a choice, they had to follow his orders to travel to their ancestral villages.  The men prepared for the journey by gathering the required supplies while, perhaps, the women prepared the food.  People tried to travel in groups for safety.  No one wanted to defy the Roman ruler’s order.

Caesar may have thought this census was for his purposes and for his kingdom.  He never knew that a Jewish prophet had written hundreds of years earlier, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times” (Micah 5:2).  He didn’t understand that the Sovereign God of the universe had set him in position and used him for His purposes.

Caesar was all part of the Master’s plan to prove to the world that Jesus was the Son of God by fulfilling the prophecy.  No man has control over the city of his birth or the circumstances surrounding his birth.  Only God can control those things.  God used Caesar’s command and agenda to accomplish His own agenda.  Never forget, precious friend, that no matter how this world seems to be moving to a place that you don’t want it to go that our God is still the One in charge.  He rules over every legislation, every law, and every man.  It is His kingdom that is the everlasting kingdom and not any man’s.  We can place our trust in Him!

Pray with me:  Sovereign God, You are in complete control.  Rulers may think they wield the power, but the scepter has never departed from Your hand.  You set up kings, and You depose them (Daniel 2:21).  You rule over all, and You reign on high.  We are Your subjects.  We are doing Your bidding, and You do not do ours.  Although You listen to us and hear our desires, it is Your will that prevails.  We trust in You completely.  It’s in Your precious Son’s Name, Yeshua’s Name, we pray.  Amen.