The Wonder of Christmas

I don't have many readers out there but to those who do, I pray you have a most blessed Christmas. I also pray that you would have a revelation of the Wonder of the season and be amazed as you see the miracles happening all around you. Jesus didn't come as a baby born in a manager so we could simply celebrate Christmas with family, and loved ones. Though celebrating together is one of the great blessings we enjoy because of Christmas, we do good to be reminded of the greater purposes for his coming. During this season why not take time to consider: why did the angles come to the shepherds of all people? Why Elizabeth in her old age, and Mary who was just a girl and why Joseph? Why a manager in Bethlehem? Why wise men and Herod? What was their purpose? Doesn't it amaze you that God put all of this together at just the right time and just the right place? What a Wonder He is! It was a miracle that a child born to a virgin. If a child can be born of God to a virgin then certainly God can to anything. For he tells us in his word that for God all things are possible. Does that not encourage you and make you want to shout for joy. "Joy to the world the LORD has come" He is the God of possibilities! We can trust Him for a miracle in our lives. He is God of creation and God of all glory. He is Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and the Prince of Peace! (Isa 9). Worship Him this Christmas and stand in awe of His wonder!

Have a Blessed Christmas and a Year of New Beginnings!
Joan

Contemplating God

A friend of mine has a friend who just lost his 16 year old son. He never woke up in the morning. Died sometime during the night. I cannot wrap my mind around that. I can't begin to understand the pain his parents are dealing with as they experience grief so profound and unbearable. I have heard people say that God understands this because He also lost his son to a cruel death by the hands of the people He was trying to save. I find that somewhat comforting. But I also find myself thinking "but He is God" and yes he lost His son but he knew the outcome and that his death was only temporary. What do you say to father that asks you "is my child in heaven?" "Will I see him again?" Sometimes we don't know the outcome. We just don't have the priveledge of knowing what God knows. We know God's word. We know that he says all who believe will be saved...and those who don't will be condemned. We understand that God is loving and we know that he is just. How do we reconcile it all and how do we minister to those who grieve without knowing or without hope.

God asks us to trust him and reminds us that he gives beauty for ashes and the oil of joy for those who mourn. We know that he is good and he is kind and desires that no one leave this earth without coming to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. God's words tells us that Jesus searched everywhere until he found the one lost sheep. He didn't give up and when the lost was found he carried the lamb home in his arms. We may not know the outcome of a loved ones life. But we can know that God will give them every opportunity; that his love is even greater than our own and that he will not give up on them; he will seek them out even to the very end with a heart that desires to carry them home. As the song Leeland sings says: He carries them to the table of the Lord.

Our job is to allow these kinds of situations to wake us up to the importance of sharing the message of the gospel with the people he has put in our lives. Our job is to trust God enough to step out in faith and believe that the people around us want what we have....they just don't know it. When death comes knocking at their door will you be the one they turn to for answers? When difficulties come are you the one they seek out to ask for prayer?

God's word says it's a race we are running and for some is it over quicker than for others. The idea is to get as many to the finish line to receive the prize as possible. It doesn't matter who finishes when. It matters how we run the race. Am I taking time to help the one who is lagging behind or encouraging the one who has given up. Am I so concerned about my own race that I have ignored the one who is watching me run and doesn't know how to get in the race? Will I stop long enough to help them? What is God saying to you? How will you respond when difficult questions arise? Will you become discouraged and faithless or will you respond with faith and trust that God is who he says he is and will do what he has said in his word that he will do. He IS faithful and we CAN trust him.