Trust

          So he got up,  took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt.

                                                                                                        Matthew 2:14

          God told Joseph in a dream that he had to escape to Egypt and stay there because Herod wanted to kill the child.  

           Joseph trusted God.  He didn't ask God if He would have a house prepared for them and other provisions.  He simply trusted God and even left right there in the middle of the night!  

           

           Today trust God that He will and is providing everything that you need and He is protecting you from the "Herod's" that live in this world today.

    

   Now that Christmas is upon us remember everything you learned about the days building up to The Messiah's birth.  Ponder everything and store it in your hearts.  Merry Christmas!

           Read Matthew 2:13-18

Precious gift

       After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea,  during the time of King Herod,  Magi from the east came to Jerusalem. 

                                                   Matthew 2:1

      Astrologers from Persia heard about the amazing news of Jesus and followed a star to find Him.  

      We don't know exactly how many wise men there were but;  we do know that they brought gifts of gold,  incense, and myrrh.  In those days those kind of gifts were costly and only given to kings.  We are shown the wisdom of these men.  They could see that Jesus was a precious gift and should be treated as one. 

    Today think of why Jesus is so precious to us.  

    Read Matthew 2:1-12

Sheep and angels

      And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby,  keeping watch over their flocks at night.

                                            Luke 2: 8

        It's just another silent night,  watching over the sheep.  The shepherds were probably settling down for the night when suddenly,  an angel surrounded by a brilliant light that is not of this world appeared to them!!  

       The shepherds were the lowliest of people yet;  God choose them to see The Christ child first.  In a way,  they were probably last to see or do anything because they were responsible for all these sheep that are helpless.  But God choose them to be first.

         Think of how God Choose the humblest of people to see the humblest King.

                    Read Luke 2:8-20

  

A child is born

                             
                   While they were there,  the time came for the baby to be born.
                                                                                 Luke 2:6

               It's time,  the savior is here!  How must it felt for Mary and Joseph to be the first people to see God in the flesh?  Was there fear, awe and joy?  After all these years He's finally here! Hallelujah the savior is here!

               Let's celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ today.
                
               Read Luke 2:1-7

                       

Words of praise

                              
                  "Praise be to the Lord,  the God of Israel,  because he has come and has redeemed his people."
                                                     Luke 1:68

                    Zechariah was probably the happiest and proudest father around after his son was born.  After being mute for nine months God gave him his voice back.  Zechariah could have started talking about how horrible it was.  Instead,  he praised God and God filled him with the Holy Spirit to prophecy!

                    Today lets fill our words with praise for God!!

                    Read Luke 1:67-80

It's a boy!

             When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son.

                                                                                    Luke 1:57

             It's always exciting when a baby is born.  Everyone comes together and celebrates!  Even if there is strife between two people, they'l put their differences aside to see a new life come into the world.  

             John's birth was a miracle in and of itself! Everyone could see that God had big plans for this boy;  especially because he was named John,  and because what happened to his father. What did God have in store for this boy?

                Read Luke 1:57-66.

    

Deep thinker

                 "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my savior."

                                                                              Luke 1:46-47

               Mary was a deep thinker.  She remembered what God did for her ancestors and she was pondering what God was doing within her! Mary even new that many generations would remember her and know the miracle of how God used her.  Mary was moved and filled with awe.  

               Read Luke 1:46-56.  Think of what God has done for you and your family and ponder what God is doing in your life now!   

            

Great faith

            When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting,  the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

                                          Luke 1:41

             God used both these women to be carrying a child.  One the savior and the other the one who would prepare the way for Him.  

              Reading this section of Mary visiting Elizabeth;  you can almost hear the joy and excitement Elizabeth must have felt for her young cousin. Mary and Elizabeth had so much faith.  They trusted and believed that God would accomplish what he said.  

             Read Luke 1:39-45 today.  Imagine the excitement of the savior being born in your time and, within your family!  

  

How will this be?

                          "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"
                                                                                  Luke 1:34

        How could something like this happen? Why would God use me for such great responsibility? This could have been some thoughts that ran through Mary's head after the angel spoke to her.  

      Mary had her future planned.  She was to marry a man named Joseph.  What would happen now?  During that time being pregnant and not having a husband was severely frowned upon and even dangerous.  Mary didn't tell the angel that he had the wrong person,  she didn't give him any other excuses.  All she said was, "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered.  "May it be as you have said." Then the angel left. (Luke 1:38)

    Today,  think of how it must have felt for Mary to realize that God placed His son within her. That He simply chose her, not because of her name or because she was so young but, simply because He loved her and chose her for it.

    Read for today Luke 1:26-38.  

      

      

Not a normal day

     

   In the time of Herod King of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah,  who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 

                                                Luke 1:5 

   What would it be like for you to be doing your normal duties in the temple? You think it's another normal day. Then you find that it wasn't any normal day.  God's angel spoke to you and explained that your barren wife was pregnant. 

     That would be exciting to know that your son is going to be used by God to prepare the way for the savior!   That was not just another day it was a special day. 

     Today will be the first day until Dec 23 to prepare for the special day coming up. Christmas!!  Read with your family, friends, or just for yourself Luke 1:5-25. 

     

     Then watch this video. We can look back and be thankful for Christ coming to earth for us but;  what was it like to look forward to it?  Watch this video.     

Food Equality

         

Have you ever met someone who's diet was only vegetables? Or they only ate bread or just steamed things and so on.  Do you judge people by what they eat?  What if God told them only to eat that certain food or even created them to only eat that?

                                         Don't Judge me!

         One man's faith allows him to eat everything,  but another man,  whose faith is weak,  eats only vegetables.  The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not,  and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does,  for God has accepted him.
                                                Romans 14:2-3

        In the verse above it says that God has accepted us and what we eat.  Why can't we accept others?  Is it because the food pyramid, vitamins, minerals, calories, fats and the like have brainwashed us into thinking that certain foods are okay and others are bad?

       What does that passage mean from Romans?  One man's faith allows him to eat everything while another only eats vegetables.  I think it means that one man trusts God that whatever he eats God will keep him healthy and strong while the other doesn't have that kind of faith to believe that to be able to happen.


      Last August, my sister suddenly had a hard time swallowing food.  That condition knocked her choice of foods down considerably.  Since she had always had a strong gag reflex, she could only eat foods strictly on how the texture of the food was. Eating smooth things went down easier. The only things she could eat was ice cream, mashed potatoes, Cream of Wheat and on good days, she could eat our homemade bread with butter.  My sister felt at peace that God was doing this for a reason. I, on the other hand couldn't grasp how God could allow this to happen.  I was angry at Him.  What was His plan for this?!  What good would come from this?  I was afraid because I would tell her (out of my ignorance and pride)  that this was all unhealthy.  She would become flustered and hurt and try to explain to me that she literally can't eat certain foods and that God said He would keep her healthy. 


     This summer,  my parents, two of my sisters and I went to help chaperon our youth group to a Christian camp.  My sister went there  the previous year so she was ready.  She knew where the kitchen was and she knew that they would be gracious enough to let her prepare her own special food.  She would make Cream of Wheat and mashed potatoes from packets she brought.  The kitchen staff stared ate her and only one lady was kind and helped her around.  Later on in the week, she confessed her story to all the adults and youth pastor in charge of the whole camp.  One of the women found my sister later on and explained to her that her daughter had the same exact thing.  The woman told her it had something to do with the back of her throat. The nerves were hypersensitive.  My family and I realized that when me and two of my sisters were born (yes, we're triplets)  she was the only one who choked on the sticky medicine that me and my other sister swallowed easily.  Wow,  she had this her whole life!!  It was very subtle growing up.  She remembers times when she was younger when she would have flare ups but,  they weren't as severe.  Now, it is much better and she can eat a little more variety but either way, I'm at peace about it.  My faith and trust grew through that too!
                   
                                 What now?

     For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking,  but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
                                     Romans 14:17

    I was an idiot!  I was breaking the peace between me and my sister over food!!  Have any of you got into a fight with someone about whether that's healthy or not?  We need to keep the peace with the Holy Spirit and with His people as well. We need to look past all that stuff.  Remember,  don't ever judge someone about what they eat.  We don't know their story.  Focus on the people with love and  compassion.