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
by Sharon O | Nov 25, 2015 | Uncategorized
On the eve of Thanksgiving day, I asked my husband to help me think of other words of Thanksgiving.
Another one that we came up with is so ‘simple’ yet so important and valuable.
The word or words that we thought about and discussed is: Relationships and family.
Dictionary.com says:
Relationship is – association involving emotional connection between people.
Family is – any group of persons closely related by blood, a group belonging, whether dwelling together or not.
When we think of thanksgiving, we immediately think of spending time with those we love.
Oh sometimes we might volunteer in a community setting, and serve others who we do not know.
But for the purpose of this writing, relationships in the form of family is what holidays are all about.
It would not be the same, if we had no one to enjoy the holiday with.
Relationship is a part of ‘who’ we are as people. Who God made us to be.
We love and care for our friends and loved ones. We wish for them health and peace deep in their spirits.
Family is often times who we spend holidays with, but even more than that, it is about who means the most to us.
Sometimes holidays can bring unhealthy relationships.
These are the worst calls for fire or policemen. Family issues escalating because of the holiday.
It is not always that serious, that one would need to call them, but I do know
we all have had that experience, where we had to show up when we really didn’t want to.
Unfortunately that does happen, but most of the time the holiday season is spent with those we love and care for.
Those we choose to spend time and make special moments and memories with.
Even Jesus showed us the importance of family and friends.
As he ministered to others, he wanted to get away with those he truly cared for and loved.
On this eve of Thanksgiving, let us think on and pray for our relationships and family.
The other words of the season.
