by Sharon O | Dec 4, 2015 | Uncategorized
As the story continued for Mary and Joseph, there are many things we are not told.
Such as, how did her family react to her news about a baby coming?
There is no mention of her mom or dad, grand parents or brothers or sisters, we do hear of a cousin who will join in the story later on.
We know Mary was young, a teen, we also know Joseph was older. I am not sure how much older.
We know the culture in that time did not accept ‘unwed’ mothers, and it should have been and perhaps was, a deep concern for them.
We know that Joseph had a few second thoughts about it, until the angel told him all was well.
There is little mention of him after the baby was a few years old, was he not around or just very quiet?
When Mary’s family was told of the baby coming did they abandon her and shun her?
Later in the story she leaves with Joseph alone, just the two of them and the baby she was carrying.
Was there a good bye from her family or a big ‘disaster’ between them?
That would be a deep heart ache for her, to follow Joseph in the midst of ‘her pregnancy’ and maybe broken relationships.
Joseph could be her support person, but he had not ever been in this situation before.
So much was new and scary for both of them.
So much was on their hearts as they followed after God.
Later we will see Mary accepting her role in this miracle.
She allowed her heart to fall in love with this ‘child’ to be, just as any other expectant mom.
There is more to the story as we unfold the miracles and the majesty.
God was in control of the life to come. God came near and was among us.
In the form of a baby. A Christ child. A new precious, presence of the HOLY.
Only Joseph and Mary would know the depth of this miracle.
Only Joseph and Mary were called to do this role, and to be the ones who would hold it deep within them.
Luke two verse nineteen says:
[but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.]
I would imagine she would each day she saw her tiny baby move inside her.
With each kick, each hiccup, each life altering movement for both of them.
I would imagine she was remembering, the angel who told her.
by Sharon O | Dec 3, 2015 | Uncategorized
In the book of Matthew chapter one verse eighteen, we find ourselves reading the beginning of a story.
[This is how Jesus the Messiah was born.]
Every story has a beginning and this was no exception, only with Jesus the lineage was set up many years before.
From Matthew chapter one verse one to verse sixteen, it names all the generations before him naming fathers first, till it came to Mary.
In verse sixteen b it says: [Mary gave birth to Jesus, who is called the Messiah]
The significance of that is crucial since the time of the Old Testament to the new, the people were waiting for a Messiah.
For in the book of Isaiah in the Old testament they were promised a sign to watch out for.
Isaiah seven verse fourteen: [Alright then, The Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’)
The story unfolding as we realize after hundred’s of years of waiting, the promise spoken now fulfilled.
God’s presence with us.
In Matthew chapter one verse twenty three:
[Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us’.]
It was a supernatural moment. A moment in time where God’s presence came to us in a very simple way.
What can be more simple than the birth of a newborn. What can be more precious?
Throughout the story the angels ministered to both Mary and Joseph during this journey of theirs.
They knew the significance of what they were being asked.
They also didn’t really know the heart ache that would come to them.
Just as any parents we go into the process with wonder and awe and fear and a full range of emotions.
I would imagine Mary and Joseph were just like us.
Following what the angels had told them, and facing the journey together… for the first time.
by Sharon O | Dec 2, 2015 | Uncategorized
Continuing on our talk from my pastor, he was sharing with us the miracles of Christmas and how Christmas cannot be without the Holy Spirit.
All throughout the Christmas story, the Holy Spirit unfolded many signs and wonders.
The significance of all of the events were amazing, and not often realized by the ones involved at the time they were taking place.
The supernatural and the expectancy was all over the Christmas story.
God came near.
He was showing us over and over the history of the miraculous.
Not just the New Testament miracles but even some of the old Testament miracles.
In Matthew 1:18 The story begins with Mary.
[While she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit.]
In Luke 1:35 It tells us more.
[The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the most high shall overshadow you.]
Not only did the Holy Spirit play an active role in the ‘story’ but the angels did too.
We cannot forget the angels who were messengers of both good news and alarming news.
Can you even imagine Mary a young ‘teen’ being told she would be expecting a baby?
In that culture it was a serious violation and could even be the cause for her to be stoned.
You can then imagine, how Joseph would react when hearing the news of the baby to be.
Matthew 1:19 tells us that part of the story.
[Joseph, her fiancé, was a good man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.
As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream.
“Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”]
vs 24 [When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife.]
It is about obedience when we don’t understand.
It is about trusting when we remain unsure of the outcome.
It is about knowing and believing in the supernatural power of the story told.
The spirit of Christmas begins in the heart of those who are close to the story.
God came near.
So we can know the heart of the one who delights in us.
by Sharon O | Dec 1, 2015 | Uncategorized
Our Pastor began a teaching this last Sunday on the Spirit of Christmas, from the narrative through the eyes of the Holy Spirit.
We all know the Father, Son and Holy Spirit concept but do you know and realize it began many years ago?
The Gift of Christmas is Jesus, the Christ child. The real present who gives life and meaning.
Pastor told us the story of a family who had decorated for Christmas and then had all the gifts under the tree and yet never opened them.
People who knew them wondered why the packages were never opened, they sat in the corner and stayed there, season after season.
They had all the ‘look’ but never appreciated what was given to them.
He shared it so that we can see the imagery of ‘not’ appreciating the gift God gives us.
For some they don’t appreciate or open the gift because they feel unworthy or undeserving.
For others they just see it as an illusion, a story or an empty box representing Christmas, kind of like a decoration.
For others they won’t open it or receive it because it may not be what they want or even more than that, perhaps it might be life changing for them.
God is a father who loves to give good gifts to us. He delights in the giving and us receiving.
That is the whole point of Christmas. For God gave his SON so we can have life.
Sometimes we choose to not receive it. We say we want the season but no so much the meaning of it.
We can say just give us the stories and the songs and the feel good times of sharing.
The question to ask is how do we become people who both receive and believe the story of Christmas.
The Holy Spirit is supernatural all throughout the story, beginning with Angels.
So many angels in the story. All throughout the spirit of Christmas the angels were a part telling the news.
Announcing the message, proclaiming the truths.
“Glory to God in the highest” the multitude of angels were singing.
Can you even imagine the glory of the Lord in that moment?
It would have been wonderful to see and feel the ‘spirit’ of Christmas.
Let us prepare our hearts and our homes for the story to be real to us, perhaps for the first time this year. 
by Sharon O | Nov 26, 2015 | Uncategorized
From our house to yours ~ Happy Thanksgiving ~ 2015
