I have been waiting and praying for a new ‘word of the year’.
Each year words have been given to me, and each year I have waited with anticipation, of how they will play out in the days and months ahead.
It feels like the new word for this year has come to me.
I am not yet ready to share it, but soon I will share the ‘meaning and the story’.
For now I wait and listen and wonder and pray.
This last year my word was Hope.
I needed that word for many reasons and I do believe it was the right one given to me.
Within the year we saw my husband have and recover from a full knee replacement.
That was very major and hard for both of us.
Within the year my best friend moved hours away from me, but she is happy and healing in a beautiful marriage designed by God.
Within the year I was able to rekindle a relationship that was broken and needed healing.
Within the year I was able to find out some health issues that have bothered me and how to deal with them.
Within the year I was able to heal another relationship that had been hurtful and we are now talking again.
Within the year I was able to restore my thoughts about childhood hurts and wounds that had ‘molded’ who I was as an adult.
Within the year we had to say good bye to my husband’s good friend’s as they were killed in an accident together.
Because we have always known but feel deeply, that life is short and anything can change in a day we made another decision.
That my husband is going to retire and end his life long career as a design engineer so we can travel and have time together.
Each of these circumstances and issues needed hope to restore and replace the hurt or the misunderstanding.
Each of these decisions needed hope to rekindle a new awareness of life and living each day to the fullest.
Each of these choices we have learned to make or not make, have been for our good and the good of others.
Our God said, “Hope deferred, makes a heart faint.” I say, “Hope given, makes a heart healed.”
Soon I will share how my new word came to me.
It is a good word full of anticipation and shall I say, Hope?
I have taken a few days to think about and enjoy the Christmas season.
Christmas Eve was spent at church for a service and it was wonderful to sing and rest in the words of our Pastor.
Christmas day we had family over and of course the children enjoyed their gifts and brunch was good.
Clean up is always not too fun as it requires hand washing of china and special glasses.
But I did it and it was all not too bad.
The few days between Christmas and New Years is always a quiet time, taking decorations down and putting them away.
Getting the house back in order. I am praying about my new ‘word for the year’ and many other things.
The story of Christmas is not quite done as our Pastor said today, the story continues.
He shared today on Anna and Simeon. Can you imagine just living in the ‘temple’ day in and day out?
They waited with expectancy for the Messiah.
THE Messiah, the one who, they would understand and know without any question, that this is the one.
Some thought the Messiah would save them from the rulers of the land and set up a new kingdom.
God had other things in mind.
He not only wanted His Son to come down to save us, he also wanted His character and the kingdom to pursue us in a deep and abiding love.
He wanted to love us so deeply and to give us a way of ‘redemption’ through the Story of Christmas.
Everyone loves a story. Everyone loves a ‘beautiful story.’
The Story of Jesus, the Spirit of Christmas is all about the story of God’s perfect plan.
A foretelling of His desire to come alongside us and not leave us alone without Hope.
God waited for the right time. The right place in time for Jesus to come to us.
There was an expectant HUSH throughout the galaxies. A baby was born.
I read a note on face book that spoke of the expectant hush, when all of creation stopped, for an instant.
And it said the stars, and the angels and everyone held their breath and beauty.
Till the baby was born. Waiting for the expectancy of a Savior. The fulfillment of a promise.
Who would save us from not only ourselves, but from times of being alone for eternity.
God loved us SO much, that He gave, His only son so that we could believe in him and find hope.
God had other things in mind. He had love from the depth his heart to us.
There is so much to share and study about the Christmas story.
I pray that as you have read these little devotionals, you have been challenged to think of the Season in a much different way.
The Spirit of Christmas was everywhere. Holy Spirit orchestrated in each and every person and activity.
The players all played an important part in telling the story. It was simple yet very profound.
It had to be that way, the miracle of a baby.
The miracles taking place over and over meeting each one on a very personal level.
How did God plan this very perfect birth? We will never know fully.
We just know it was Holy, it was ordained and a son was born.
We often sing songs like “Oh little town of Bethlehem, or “away in a manger,” Or even the more meaningful ones like “Oh Holy Night.”
We hold our candles in the Christmas eve services and we know and understand that without a little baby, born in a manger, we would not have salvation and hope.
Hope is so necessary for life to continue for us. It allows us to trust more and love deeper .
The song says, “Fall on your knees” and we breathe deep as we listen to the powerful words of the singers.
When Silent Night comes on we slow down, we listen and we remember.
It is good to remember the reason is not just Santa and Rudolph and candy canes.
It is about a Savior who changed lives. Mary’s and Joseph’s and the Shepherd’s and the wise men.
We cannot forget Zechariah and Elizabeth, or Anna or Simeon.
We cannot forget how the Angel Gabriel shared the good news in a powerful and moving way.
I think he tells us, “do not be afraid” too.
God brought us a redeeming love so we can sing, “Oh Holy Night” and mean it perhaps for the first time.
The Spirit of Christmas is right where we find it…in our hearts if we truly receive.
The other night as I was talking to my husband about the Christmas story, I asked him who I was missing.
I have covered all the players I think, the story is mostly over at this point.
The angels visit Mary and Joseph, Zechariah and Elizabeth, Mary and Elizabeth, the baby is born, and both shepherd’s and wise men, have come.
Mary and Joseph headed back home now that Herod is gone. The life of Jesus continues but I was not figuring out my new direction in telling this story.
He has been reading a book that I read and really enjoyed and I recommend it to you too.
Flash by Rachel Anne Ridge.
He said, “You are forgetting the donkey.” I looked at him as if to say, “what? no one talks about a donkey.”
But that is the point. In Rachel’s book she shares how wonderful Flash was, and how he came to mean so much for them as a family.
She shares the delightful character of her ‘donkey’ and the lessons learned from him.
It almost made me want to go out and find one for our yard, only we don’t have a farm.
Mary and Joseph had a donkey too. In fact, if you think about all the traveling they had to do in her fragile condition.
Without a donkey she could not have made it so far.
A simple donkey played a very important role in the Christmas story.
As they traveled over rocks and hard places, she trusted it’s strong legs and soft back.
I imagine how she held onto the hair with it tightly wrapped around her fingers, trying not to fall off with each step the donkey took.
She was able to rest and find some comfort, while riding on this ‘pack animal’ who made her trips so easy.
Amazing how God uses what we would not consider, to get a message to us, and also to tell his story.
This is not the first time God used a donkey, in the book of Numbers in the Old Testament, we find Balaam in chapter twenty two verse thirty.
Balaam had disciplined his donkey for not going in the direction he told to go, and the donkey responded to him.
[And the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden all your life long to this day? Is it my habit to treat you this way?”
And he said, “No”] He meaning Balaam. Now we have to stop for a second because a donkey talked and a man responded.
All things possible with God right?
I wonder what the donkey could have told us about the travel time, with Mary and Joseph. Now that would be quite the conversation!
And also remember when Jesus enters into the city as a grown man, during the triumphal entry in John twelve verses fourteen through sixteen.
[Jesus found a young donkey and rode on it, fulfilling the prophecy that said,
“Don’t be afraid, people of Jerusalem. Look your King is coming riding on a donkey’s colt”]
So we can see now that the donkey is very important to the Spirit of Christmas and the story of Jesus.
We cannot have the story without the donkey. Joseph needed the help of his ‘long time’ donkey to pack food, blankets and Mary.
One more character added to the story of Jesus. A simple donkey doing what is most natural to him.
How wonderful of God to use what we consider not usable, in the powerful story of His Son.
The next scene we move into was after the wise men left Mary and Joseph.
In the book of Matthew verse thirteen we find the angel appearing to him.
[After the wise men were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream.
“Get up! Flee to Egypt with the child and his mother,” the angel said, “Stay there till I tell you to return, because Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”]
We all have had ‘dreams’ that were disturbing but this one for Joseph, must have been quite upsetting.
I am not sure how far Egypt was from where they were, but it could not have been an easy task especially in a hurry as the angel said to flee quickly.
It is not like they could get in a rental car and drive there. It was a journey that would take time.
And how did he explain this ‘dream’ to Mary? she had to trust him and go.
The story continues in verse fourteen.
[That night Joseph left for Egypt with the child and Mary, his mother, and they stayed there till Herod’s death.
This was fulfilled what the Lord had spoken to the prophet: “I called my son out of Egypt.”
Herod was furious when he realized the wise men had outwitted him.
He sent soldiers to kill all the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under, based on the wise men’s report of the star’s first appearance.
Herod’s brutal actions fulfilled what God had spoken through the prophet Jeremiah: A cry was heard in Ramah–weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeps for her children, refusing to be comforted, for they are dead.]
Ok let’s stop here. Let us think for a moment, imagine yourself in their thoughts and feelings.
Mary and Joseph were running for safety, and realizing at some point in time, what was going on in the lands.
Can you even begin to imagine the chaos, the sorrow, the intensity, and for Mary and Joseph the burden weighing down on them for all the baby boys?
As a young mom her heart had to have been moved so intensely, feeling the depth of despair for even perhaps some of her friends?
I would imagine the words spoken to her in Luke two verse thirty five: [and a sword will pierce your very soul.] played back in her mind and heart.
We have all had a deep soul hurt. An intense pain that is not even describable.
This was the beginning for Mary.
Prophecy was fulfilled at the cost of pain and agonizing grief. Also through the jealous words of a man concerned about nothing but himself.
We have to understand the birth of Jesus was not just a warm fuzzy baby in the manger time.
It was filled with many emotions and feelings, for many who played a part in this drama.
Each scene, each person, orchestrated by the Holy Spirit, as the spirit of Christmas continues.
It is a story of obedience and sacrifice. A story of a savior who fulfilled prophecy in the city of Bethlehem.
The next scene we see in this story of Jesus is found in Matthew two verse one:
[Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod.
About that time some wise men (royal astrologers or magi) from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking,
“Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw a star as it rose (or star in the east), and we have come to worship him.”
King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem.
He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?”]
Let us pause for a moment as you can get this scene in your ‘story’.
The wise men have come to see the new baby king, Herod became worried, concerned and even jealous of his kingdom being taken by a new ruler.
A newborn king is definitely someone to be scared or afraid of, especially if you are a king who is unsure of yourself.
So in verses seven and eight, Herod set up a meeting to discuss how the wise men would go see this new baby, and then come back to let him know where he was found, so he ‘could’ go worship this little baby king too.
Now that was not a true motive, and we will find more about that out later.
In verse nine we see what takes place next:
[After this interview (the one with Herod) the wise men went their way.
And the star they had seen in the east guided them and stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy!
They entered the house and saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.
Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.]
When reading this we must not forget the meaning of these gifts given to the new baby.
Gold equals money, wealth and riches. Frankincense was an aromatic gum resin used primarily in incense or religious ceremonial practices.
Myrrh is also an aromatic used for incense or perfume. It was not uncommon to use these two oils when embalming someone after death.
SO let’s think about this, these were not the usual baby ‘shower presents’ for a newborn, these had meaning and significance.
Also some believe he was not newborn when they finally found him. It could have taken them months to arrive where the baby was with Mary.
We move to the next scene, where we see in this story of Jesus, in Luke two verse thirty three a new character:
[Anna, a prophet, was also there in the temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. Her husband died when they had been married only seven years. Then she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four.
She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer.
She came along as just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God.
She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem.
When Jesus parents had fulfilled all the requirements of the law of the Lord, they returned home to Nazareth in Galilee.]
Isn’t it amazing how God uses older people? I find it both an encouraging and challenging thought.
Each one of them were beyond years of ministry yet God chose, to allow them to be a part of the story of Jesus.
Beginning with Zechariah, who was an old man, then Elizabeth, Simeon and Anna, God wanted all of them to play a part in this very special baby’s birth.
Anna was waiting for the chosen one also.
Just as Simeon was led to the temple that same day Jesus was there, Anna was nudged to go see, at that very same hour, something special for herself.
She had spent many days in this temple. But this day was different.
This day perhaps, there was an excitement, a holy ‘stirring’, the Messiah was here.
How very wonderful to include so many players and characters in this Holy story.
It is amazing to see that not only Mary and Joseph experienced this ‘miracle’ birth, but so many were also witnesses to it.
God did not allow his baby son, to be born in isolation or privacy.
He allowed this ‘Holy night’ orchestrated by the Holy Spirit, to be witnessed and proclaimed by many.
The spirit of Christmas is weaved all throughout this Christmas story.
As we continue to read and study it, we will see and remember how very special this time was for everyone.
In Luke chapter two we find another scene unfolding in the this story of Jesus.
verse 25 it says:
[At the time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon.
He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel.
The Holy Spirit was upon him and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.
That day the Spirit led him to the Temple.
So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, Simeon was there.
He took the child in his arms and praised God saying, “Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you promised.
I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people.
He is a light to reveal God to he nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel.!”
Jesus parents were amazed at what was being said about him.
Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother,
“This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, but he will be a joy to many others.
He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed.
And a sword will pierce your very soul.”]
We have to understand Simeon was a very old man who waited patiently day after day, for the baby to arrive.
The spirit of Christmas over shadows this very blessed man, and he sees the chosen one.
The one who will save many including himself. The day the Spirit led him was also the day he was released to stop waiting.
The Messiah was here and Simeon could allow his life to end and die in peace.
In Luke chapter two verse twenty one we find another scene for Mary and Joseph and their little baby.
[Eight days later when the baby was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel even before he was conceived.
Then it was time for the purification offering, as required by the law of Moses after the birth of a child;
so his parents took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.
The law of the Lord says, “If a woman’s first child is a boy, he must be dedicated to the Lord, so they offered the sacrifice required in the law of the Lord, “either a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons.”]
So much is happening for Mary and Joseph at this time.
They traveled so far and then they delivered a precious little baby.
She had to have recovery of some kind, and then they journeyed again to dedicate their son.
It was a precious time for them, but also very significant and also very necessary to follow the laws.
Even though this was a ‘chosen baby’, they still had to do what was required of them.
I am not sure how far they had to travel, but it couldn’t be an easy path since she had just delivered.
Anyone who has gone through that process, understands the first week or two of healing and discomfort.
Again I wonder, he could not have placed her on donkey to travel, and to walk could have been a hardship for her.
They did what was required. The baby was named and the rules were followed.
Jesus was presented in the temple, and it would be the beginning of the life changing experiences many would share in, over and over, starting in the temple.
Mary’s baby was born, dedicated and named. His was named Jesus, just as the angel told them.
In the book of Luke chapter two verse eight we find a new scene to the story.
[That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flock of sheep.
Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them.
They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said.
“I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior-yes, the Messiah, the Lord-has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign; you will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”
Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others-the armies of heaven-praising God and saying.
“Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
When the angels had returned to the heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem!
Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger.
After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child.
All who heard the shepherds story were astonished but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.
The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen.
It was just as the angel had told them.]
When reading this the first thing we need to remember is the job of a shepherd.
They were social outcasts not really liked by most in the city.
They were fearless, they had to be so they could protect their sheep from any animal who may come to harm them while in the fields.
They were rough and tough and most likely not well kept as they were out in the fields most of the time.
They were not credible witnesses and not someone to be invited in ones home.
So we find these guys. These out of character guys, to be chosen to be a part of the story of Jesus.
Isn’t that amazing that God would show up and allow them to be given this privilege and even honor.
Can you even imagine these men who knew the night sky as they looked at every night.
These men who knew when something was different with the moon or stars, all of a sudden see radiance coming towards them.
It says they were terrified. We probably would be too, the brilliance and the glory was something no one had ever seen and it was noted that the angel told them not to be afraid.
The skies opened up and all of heaven sang. Wouldn’t that be amazing?
It would be breathtaking, startling, maybe even a bit emotional, for these rough and tough men.
Then it tells us they hurried to see the baby. That means they left their flock unprotected.
That is something no shepherd would ever do, but it was God who challenged them.
Can you imagine them standing or even kneeling near the tiny little baby.
Then they told others and they were believed. Making them credible witnesses.
Isn’t it like God to take an ordinary person, and change them into a ‘voice’ that others will listen to?
wow… it was just as the angel had told them. A baby was born.
One Word 2018 Simplify/2019 Simplify/2020 Rest, 2021/Comfort
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Philipians 4:13
I can do everything through him who gives me strength. ==================== Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow." Courage is not the absence of fear but it's taking action in the midst of it. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A diamond is a chunk of coal that made good under pressure.
It's your heart, not the dictionary that gives meaning to your words. Matthew 12:34 (msg) version.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Below you will find a few of my favorite websites or blogs. They have given me encouragement and challenged me on this journey.
Ann Voskamp's blog A holy Experience This image of a bleeding heart represents a journey of healing from brokenness to wholeness. Some of my favorite books: One thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp
Married over 46 years and entered into my 65th year of life.
I am a mother of two and grandmother of six and mom to two very spoiled kitties. I love to worship and encourage and of course write whenever I can find a topic or subject to share about.
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Thank you for visiting my blog.
I hope you find it encouraging and that it gives you
'Something to think about'. The vision for this is to challenge the reader into a new and different way of thinking. I appreciate and always value your comments. Having others walk alongside and join in the sharing is part of the process.
Thank you for joining me... on this journey. As we get encouraged ~ Lord help us to encourage others. "And the day came when the risk to remain a tight bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom." Anais Nin my blog button The crosses are found on a beach at Winema Christian Camp on the Oregon coast.. a place to relax and find God in the process. My favorite place ....to rest and restore my spirit.
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