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.”  Luke 2:8-14

I can’t even imagine the terror of the shepherds as they heard an angelic being speaking to them and tried to comprehend the message delivered with the glory of the Lord shining all around them. These men were chosen to witness God’s glory first hand and experience the joy of His message that the long awaited Messiah had arrived!  This was an event worthy of a great company of angelic beings shouting and praising God.  Scripture conveys the brilliance, noise and grandeur of this scene.  The angels proclaimed the glory of God and the plan of God to bring peace everlasting to mankind.  As the simple shepherds took in this scene, they were motivated to seek out the Savior.

What does this event show us about God?  God is glorious.  God’s glory is the total of all His attributes.  God displayed His glory in the beauty and wisdom of His creation.  Throughout history, God has revealed His glory to His people through His power, mercy, grace, judgment, holiness, love and every other attribute.  The Lord Jesus Christ reveals God’s glory completely.   This complete revelation of God’s glory in Jesus was what the angels were singing and praising.  The full revelation of God had come to earth as a man for the redemption of mankind.  What a glorious event!

What about me?  Try to  capture some of God’s glory this Christmas season as you consider Jesus’ birth, God sending His Only Son to Save us and the redemption of all mankind that God planned through Jesus.  Look for God’s glorious nature around you. Remember God’s glory is the sum total of all His attributes so any love, kindness, patience, goodness, mercy, grace, provision, …. you live out in your life as godly actions towards others reflect God’s glorious nature.

Blessings as you reflect God’s glory this Christmas,

Linda

 

“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 2:4-7

Since Mary was about to deliver a baby, you might have expected to Joseph to go to Bethlehem for the census and then return to Nazareth.  However, Mary was also from the house of David and women 12 years and older were required to pay a poll tax and register.  Mary would have been required to go to Bethlehem too. I am sure it was a difficult journey for both of them on foot or by donkey.  Then when they arrived in Bethlehem, they found no accommodations available.  About then, I think I would have been ready to scream in frustration!

What does this story tell us about God?  God was their provider.  Let’s look at what God did provided for them.  He provided the proper time- they traveled, arrived safely and the baby was born there- no time to return home, delivery was scheduled  by God to be in Bethlehem.  God provided a kind innkeeper who had compassion upon them and offered them his stable protected from the elements and with privacy for the baby to be delivered.  God provided shelter in a stable with a cradle made out of a manger.  I have been to the stable area in Bethlehem.  It is a roomy cave that is hidden away in the rocks.  Perhaps Mary and Joseph recalled Psalm 23 as they looked back at God’ provision.  “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures,  he leads me beside quiet waters,  he restores my soul.” 

Is God your Provider?  God provides for every creature He has made.  He feeds the birds and gives us our daily bread   We do not have strength or goodness of our own but God gives it to us generously.  He provides a way out of temptation and protects us from evil.  God’s greatest gift is His Son.  Because He  gave us His son, we can trust Him to give us everything else we need.   Just like Mary and Joseph trusted God to provide for them in their time of great need, God will do the same for us.  Do not consider God some kind of cosmic bell hop, bringing you whatever you want.  God promises to see to our needs not our wants.   One of my favorite promises that brings me great assurance of provision by our provider God is Philippians 4:19 “And my God will supply every need of yours, according to his riches in Christ Jesus.”    Trust Him today for your every provision, just as Mary and Joseph did on their trip to Bethlehem.

Trusting in my great Provider ,

Linda  

This picture is a good reminder to me today!

“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 form the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.  He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.”  Luke 2:1-5

Mary and Joseph lived under Roman rule and had to go to Bethlehem as part of the census.  God used a pagan ruler to move the birth of His Son to Bethlehem where according to prophesy Messiah was to be born.  Micah 5:2 “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.”   God is a God of details and not one prophesy about Jesus would be overlooked.  As we look at the life of Jesus we can see prophecy after prophecy that was fulfilled in His life.  There is no possible way that all the things said about the coming Messiah could have been accomplished except by an all powerful and wise God.   I am reminded of the words of Daniel in Daniel 2:20-21 “Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his.  He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them.  He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.  He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness and light dwells with him.”

What does this tell us about God?  God is wise He is not simply all knowing.  He always uses His knowledge to do exactly what is right.  God’s Word is full of His wisdom.  Both His plan of redemption and His creation are perfectly wise.  God is wise in the plan He has for each of His children individually.  All wisdom comes from God.  To be wise we must seek Him. All the details of Jesus’ coming to Earth, His future ministry and sacrifice for all mankind were planned with God’s wisdom and executed by His power.  Joseph and Mary were part of God’s plan for the birth of God’s Son as well as Caesar Augustus who issued the decree causing them to travel to Bethlehem.  All the details were made and carried out by a wise and loving God.

What does this mean for you and me today?  Through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit and God’s Word, I can learn, know and apply God’s wisdom in my life.  Ephesians 1:7-8 “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.”  Paul put it this way in 1 Corinthians 2:13 “This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.”  Learning to walk in God’s wisdom is a life-long endeavor and achieved only by God’s grace.  Studying passages like today’s story show the power and wisdom of God.  He brought all worldly events under His power and direction and it helps us to see that God is wise in all He does and we can trust Him fully.

Seeking and trusting our Wise God,

Linda

 

“This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.  Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.   All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’– which means, ‘God with us.’  When Joseph wok up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.  But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.”  Matthew 1:18-25   

Scripture tells us Joseph was a righteous man, he was a descendent of David and he was betrothed or pledged to Mary.  According to custom, the Jewish betrothal was more binding than our modern engagement.  It could only be broken by divorce and during this time there was no sexual relationship between the man and woman.  The betrothed woman was referred to as ‘wife’ and the man as ‘husband’.  So Joseph was a good Jewish man, he followed the laws and customs and he obviously cared for Mary as he did not want to see her publicly judged which could have led to her stoning.  The angel stopped  Joseph’s course of action as he listened, believed the Lord’s Words and accepted the unusual circumstances within which He found himself.  He took it on faith and exercised his faith with action towards Mary.

What does this event tell us about God?  God is Incomprehensible.  We cannot understand God’s thoughts and ways.  God is infinite and eternal and knows all things. God made human beings in His image, but we are finite and flawed by sin.  In heaven we will be perfect. However, we will still not know all there is to know about God because we will be finite.  We can understand all that we need to know about God because He has given us His Word and His Spirit.  Joseph would have been familiar with the Old Testament words of Job 5:9 “He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.”  and Isaiah 55:8 “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways may ways,’ declares the LORD.”   Joseph knew God was beyond total understanding, and he needed to exercise faith to walk within God’s will for his life.  He was a wise and righteous man.   He knew this about his God “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 12:6.   So Joseph boldly stepped out and acted upon his faith trusting God for the results.

What about you?  Do you know and trust God?  Are you willing to step out in faith when God calls you to do, serve, be used and tell others?  Can you accept that God’s ways are not our ways and that we will not totally understand our infinite God.  Be a Joseph today- step out with faith and in faith to follow Jesus.

In awe of our Incomprehensible God,

Linda

 

Isaiah 9:7 “Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his  kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.  The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.”   Isaiah 22:22 “I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.”   The coming Messiah was to be from the House and Line of King David.  Though Jesus was holy and divine, his earthly line was from the House of David through both His mother and father.  Matthew records the line of Jesus from Abraham to David to Joseph. “and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.” Matthew 1:16    Luke records the lineage of Jesus from God to Abraham to David to Mary’s ancestors.  Luke 3:23-38.

The Christmas story, the birth of Jesus, did not just appear out of nowhere.  Jesus said, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”  Luke 24:44  All the details of His birth matched the prophesies in the Old Testament.  One key prophesy was that Messiah would be born from the line of David.  The New Testament records show Jesus’ line on both his earthly father and mother to be from the line of David.  Jesus was the perfect match, the perfect one.

What does this tell us about God?  God is perfect.  Everything God is, does and says, all His attributes, His revelation and His works, are completely free from faults or defects.  Because God is unchanging and faithful, the measure of perfection begins with God.  What God wills is good and perfect, His ways are flawless, His judgment is upright, His Word is without error.  Therefore, everything God is, does or says is right, including His Word in Scripture.  God in his perfection ordered the life of Jesus to fit exactly as His Word had foretold.  Only a perfect God could arrange and ordain this.  Jesus was and is the perfect Savior from our perfect God.

How have you seen God’s perfection in your life?  Has He brought good and perfect things into your life in spite of the sin filled world in which we exist?  Has He perfectly ordered your life so that you can follow Him, recognize Him and cling to Him in your day to day life?  Have you seen a perfect sunset, a new baby or a beautiful flower opened before you sometime this year?  Think about some perfect things you’ve experienced this year- who could make them happen but God?  God in His perfection brought Jesus to us to save us from our sins.  Thank Him for this great expression of His perfection to us as we celebrate Jesus’ birth.

Praising our Perfect God,

Linda

 

 

 

I have really loved Mary and Zechariah’s songs of praise.  Today is the last portion of Zechariah’s.

Luke 1:76-80  “And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,  because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those  living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”  And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the desert until he appeared publicly to Israel.

The beginning of Zechariah’s song, verse 67, says, “His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied.”   The power of God came upon him and filled him with God’s Spirit and knowledge so that he was able to tell of events in the future for his young infant son.   He said his son would be called a prophet for Almighty God, would tell others of the coming Messiah, and he also revealed the reason the Messiah was coming.  Only God would know these things- His timing of events and His purpose.  Only God could send a redeemer to bring us from darkness into His light, guide us in the way of peace and save us.  John lived and did just as his father prophesied.  You can read about John’s ministry in the gospels and how he fulfilled in every detail what had been prophesied about him.

What does this revelation from Zechariah tell us about God?  God is Omniscient or all-knowing.  God is never surprised, as He knows all there is to know.   God knows the past and the future; He know every person even before we are born.  He knows the number of our days and all the plans He has for us.  He knows what every person thinks, feels, says and does.  Only God knows the choices people would make if their circumstances were different.   Nothing is hidden from God, as only God knows all things.   God knew all about John and what He had planned for his life.  John was obedient to God’s call and fulfilled the purpose God had for his life.

 

What about you?  Do you believe in the Omniscience of God?  Do you trust Him to guide you and fulfill His purpose for your life?  Knowing and beliving in the Omniscience of God is essential to our walk of faith.  Jeremiah 29:11 holds a promise for us to cling to as we depend upon the omniscience of God.  “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”   Take that leap of faith today and put your total trust in Jesus.  He has you in the palm of His hand!

Learning to lean on the Omniscience of God more each day,

Linda

 

 

“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people.  He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago), salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us–to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, the oath he swore to our father Abraham: to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.”  Luke 1:68–75

Zachariah uses words to describe God’s actions towards his people like: redeemed, salvation, raised up, rescued, showed mercy, covenant, oath, enabled and without fear.  The nation of Israel had been chosen to bring salvation to the world, to be a people with whom God could live and dwell and a people chosen to live in obedience to Him.  God had been leading and guiding this stiff-necked, rebellious, sinful people toward the day when redemption would be available through Jesus, His Son.  Zachariah praises God that He has been faithful to His people through all the generations.

What does Zachariah’s song of praise tell us about God?  God is long-suffering.  He faithfully stands by His people through all types of injuries, insults, trouble and anguish.  His patience is enduring.  He is suffering with our sinful nature giving time for us to come to Him.  He never tires of showing mercy, grace and forgiveness to us.  He was even willing to send His only Son, Jesus, to redeem us and bring us into a right relationship with Him.  2 Peter 3:8-9 “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a  thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.  He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.”   Praise God for his long-suffering nature towards us!  His patience will end with judgment of those who reject His Son and chose to remain in their unbelief.   Who do you know that has yet to believe?  Pray for their salvation and that they would come to know our Long-suffering God.

Has God been long-suffering with you?  Has He waited patiently for you to return to Him, to worship Him, to study His Word and learn of His character?   Has He continued to draw you unto Himself?  The promise in Deuteronomy 31:6 comes to mind “Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”  God is patiently waiting to be there for you- call upon Him, seek Him and He will be with you.  Remember, God is long- suffering towards you and desires you to be in relationship with Him.  Don’t wait, call upon Him today.

Thankful for the Long-suffering nature of God,

Linda

“When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son.  Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.  On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, but his mother spoke up and said , ‘No! He is to be called John.’  They said to her, ‘There is no one among your relatives who has that name.’  Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child.  He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, ‘His name is John.’  Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue was loosed, and he began to speak, praising God.  The neighbors were all filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking abound all these things.  Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, ‘What then is this child going to be?’  For the Lord’s hand was with him.”  Luke 1:57-66

Zachariah and Elizabeth were given a son in their old age, Zachariah was muted for questioning God’s message with his unbelief or doubts, the neighbors were amazed by what they saw and heard and God’s messenger was named John, just as He said.  God keeps his promises and fulfills His plans.  Wouldn’t you have loved to have been in the room when Zachariah, who was muted for 9 months, began to speak?  God’s power and might was evidenced that day by the birth, the name of John and the sound of Zachariah’s voice.  John was to be the forerunner of Jesus and would proclaim him as Savior- “I baptize you with water.  But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”  Luke 3:16

What does this event tell us about God?  God is immutable, unchanging.  “Jesus  Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8  We can count of Him always to be holy, always to be good, always to be faithful, always to love us, always to hate sin.  God’s Word is like Him; it does not change.  We can count on His promises  because God never changes, we can trust Him always!    All those gathered at Zachariah’s that day saw the immutable character of God displayed.  He kept His promise of a son that was to be named John who would have a special mission.  He kept His promise that Zachariah would not speak until John was born and named.  God was faithful to His promises to Zachariah and Elizabeth, and He is faithful to us.  He does not change His mind and His Word stands forever.  His will is perfect and He cannot be swayed.  God is holy and we can count on His immutability.   Praise God, He is unchanging in a constantly changing world.  He is an absolute we can cling to throughout eternity.

Thank you God for you immutable character,

Linda

“His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.  He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.  He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.  He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.  He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers.” Luke 1:50-55

Yesterday I wrote about Mary’s praise for God’s preserving character, but today I want to focus on her praise for God’s mercy.  She knew God to be merciful, why?  She had seen Him show mercy on those who love and worship Him.  She had seen God’s mercy in her people’s history and in her own.

What does it mean that God is merciful?   God in His mercy does not give us what our sins deserve.  He limits the extent of pain.  He restrains evil and holds back sin.  He makes His gospel known in places where people have turned their backs on Him.  God seeks those who are lost, alone, hurting and in need.  He forgives and restores those who repent and turn to Him in faith.

Mary knew that due to their sins in the past- worshiping other gods, idolatry, the people of Israel should have been abandoned by God in the desert, in Babylon, to their enemies, BUT God in His mercy saved them.  She knew that because of their rejection of Him- they should have been overpowered, taken captives and scattered throughout the world, BUT God in His mercy brought them back, kept them as one people returning them from Egypt and Babylon.  Mary knew that God is merciful to the individuals who love and revere Him- David as he fled from King Saul’s persecution, Daniel who survived the Lion’s Den, Joseph who survived being taken captive, imprisoned, wrongfully treated and then elevated to a high position so he could save his brothers, and herself.  She knew God was merciful to her by allowing her to be the mother of the coming Messiah, for choosing her, protecting and keeping her safe in a culture that would have rejected and mistreated her.   Her love for God and her thankfulness for His unending mercies shouts to us today.

How have you experienced God’s mercy?  Has He found you when you were lost spiritually, been with you when you were alone, or come to you when you were hurting from worldly circumstances?  Definitely if you know Jesus as your Savior, you have experienced the mercy of forgiveness and restoration, salvation and the hope it brings.  What mercy can you thank God for this Christmas season?   One of my favorite promises is Lamentations 3:21-23  “Yet this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:  The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”   I know and trust that God in His mercy will renew me each morning and give me a fresh new day.  He is merciful, loving and faithful to me.  Mary knew this, do you?

Thankful for God’s mercies to me,

Linda

Here is a quote I found that really spoke to me.  This truth gives me great reason to Praise Him along with Mary for His great Mercy.

 

“His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.  He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.  He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.  He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.  He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers.” Luke 1:50-55

I see two different attributes of God that stand out to me in Mary’s continuing song of praise. I’ll highlight one today and one tomorrow.  Today I’d like to talk about God’s Protector/Preserver attribute.  Mary knew that God had protected and preserved the children of Israel since the time of Abraham when He made a covenant with him.  Genesis 12: 2-3 “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.  I will bless those who bless you and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”    Mary would have been familiar with the stories of the Exodus from Egypt, the miraculous plagues, the saving of the first born, the parting of the Red Sea, the giving of the law on Mt. Sinai, the feats and battles of Gideon, Deborah, King David and many more.   She would have known of the preservation of Esther and the way God used foreign kings to bring them back from exile in Babylon.  Mary would have been familiar with Daniel and his stay in the lion’s den.  She had seen how God preserved her people generation after generation against all odds.  It is no wonder then that Mary praises and sings of God’s great upholding power with mighty deeds and personal support.

Who is this great preserver that Mary loves?  God preserves His own.  We can trust Him to preserve the good work He has started in us through Christ.  God preserves our lives for His purpose and He preserves our salvation.  Jesus promises that no one can take you out of God’s hand.  No temptation, no failure, no person, not even Satan can make us lose our salvation .  God preserves us, just as He did the children of Israel, so that we can accomplish His purpose.  He is our preserver.  Mary knew this in her heart and sang praises to the preserver of herself and her people.

Is Jesus your preserver?  Do you trust Him to help, defend and protect your faith and salvation against all enemies?  I love the verses in John 10:28-29 “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.”   Trust God and walk today with assurance that God has got you and will never let you go.  Mary knew this and sang out in praise. Join her in proclaiming praise to our Mighty God who promises to preserve us.

Held in the hand of Almighty God,

Linda

Thank goodness this is true!