Well everyone, it is the last day of 2012! Hard to believe! 2013 sounds sooo strange. Ok, maybe not sooo much ( lol! ), but it is amazing how quickly the years are ticking by and how much happens in a year. I always get a little weird feeling when trying to wrap my mind around the fact that another year is ending. I gave up on New Year's Resolution lists a loooong time ago because it's just so disappointing when you don't get it finished off. I'm sure everyone has had that experience. :P Instead, I try to make daily goals, which are basically all the same ones I'd want for a whole year. It's just a lot nicer to have a daily list rather than a year list because if you don't get something done in a day, that doesn't sound as bad. I mean, there's only so much time in a day, ya know? :D
 My ultimate goal every day is to draw closer to the Lord. He is my everything, my stronghold, my mighty tower, my Saviour. I love Him with all my heart. I desire to please Him with all I do. I know I fail Him each day, but I also know that as long as I want to do what is right, He forgives me.
 I also want to live for others, love others, and be as healthy as I can. These are all hard to do, and I know I fail these goals as well, but I still desire to fulfill these things to the best of my ability. I think the hardest thing for a person to do is to be self-less. Put others first, die to your own wants. Being in a household where there are little ( and not so little ) kids like I have been these last few days and for a few days more certainly has been reminding me of that. If you want to learn a lot of lessons in how your actions and words affect others and how to really be patient and self-less, take care of kids. It is not easy. But in the end, it is one of the most rewarding things you will ever do. When you earn their trust, respect, and love, you have been given one of the greatest gifts. It is truly amazing.
 So don't fret when you fail your resolutions for the new year! Strive to live every day as best you can and that is more than enough. In fact, that is even better than trying to follow something through a new year. You don't lose sight of your goal if you keep it in your mind daily and not put it off for the future. You don't lose heart when you haven't reached your goal fast enough. The Bible says to not worry about tomorrow for there is enough trouble today and tomorrow will take care of itself. Certainly a good principle to live by and one that we can all lose sight of.

Happy New Year!

Not Over Yet

 The story of the birth of our Lord is not over with once the shepherds come to see the babe in the manger. In Matthew the second chapter it tells of the wise men coming to Jerusalem to inquire of Herod about the newborn king. In the latter part of the second chapter of Luke, it tells of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus going to the temple to offer sacrifices. There a man named Simeon and also woman named Anna glorified God and prophesied over the babe and his mother. 

 It is incredible how many times heavenly beings are mentioned. It was an angel who told Zacharias of John. He also appeared to Mary, to Joseph several times, and to the shepherds and wise men. Every step of the way angels appeared. How amazing!!! 

 

Unto us a Child is born, a Son is given

" And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. "

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" And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. "

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" But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. "

Luke 2: 6&7, 8-14, 19

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Ponder.

Wonder. 

Envision.

Bow.

Honor.

Adore.

Love.

Believe. 

Rejoice.

Live.

This is Christmas.

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MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Bethlehem Journey

" And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. " Luke 2:1, 3-5

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 There are many that do not realize that Jesus' birth was not truly in December. December 25th used to be ( and can still be ) a pagan holiday. As a Christian, although not the actual time of the birth of Christ, is a time I set aside to celebrate His birth. Let's investigate.

 Jesus is the Lamb of God. All Lambs are born in the Spring. Also, why would Caesar announce a tax time for everyone to have to travel to their hometown in the winter? It snows there in the hills of Judaea same as in many other places around the world! Think of how our modern system is run in the United States. Taxes are in the Spring. While there is still no set date ( not even a month! ) as to when Jesus was really born, this makes a lot more sense. Travel was hard enough in those days, with rough paths and primitive modes of transportation. In fact, many walked. What a journey that must have been for Mary! How Joseph must have worried over her and the unborn babe. But they arrived safely, with our Lord to be born soon after.

Zacharias's Praise

" And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. " Luke 1:67-75

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Merry Christmas!

Mary's Praise

" And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever. "

Luke 1:46-55

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 God is very deserving of our praise! We shouldn't even have to wait for the miraculous to happen to give Him the glory and honor He is worthy of. Many wondrous things are listed all through the Bible as to what God is and does. Quite a few are named in the passage above. What has God done for you, for me, even today that credits praise? Perhaps the most miraculous of all is the fact that He has allowed me to be on this earth one more day. Perhaps the most " minute " is the fact that He cares enough about me to let a new spin on a recipe turn out, or that a friend of mine happened to be online at the same time I was so I could say hello. These little moments of joy are love gifts from God! He is just as deserving of a thank you for the little things as the big things. 

 Perhaps talking about the little things may seem a discredit in light of the very incredible things Mary is giving glory to God for. It is only that in seeing the great things of God that puts me in mind of the small things. Note that Mary rejoices in the fact that God noticed her despite her ' low estate '. Without the little, we would not have the big. Everything starts out small, then grows into something bigger. :) 

 This season, let the little sparks of God ignite into a fire that burns brighter in the soon-coming new year as you ponder all that God has done for us all through eternity. The greater part of His salvation plan began as a seed in the womb of a lowly virgin. That seed grew to be a man that died on a cross for all mankind's sin. Amen! What great, glorious riches indeed!

Merry Christmas!

" Oh, Come Let Us Adore Him

Christ, the Lord. "

Simple Words

" And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. " Luke 1:38

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 As fear turned to awe at the presence of this heavenly being before her and his message to her, another feeling washed over Mary. Humility. So many times it is hard to be humble. She could have taken pride in the fact that God deemed her worthy enough to bear Jesus. Yet it was her simplicity that pleased Him. I believe that is why He chose her. He knew she would accept the Word and all that came with it without scoffing, without being prideful, without complaining. Mary is a wonderful example of what our reaction should be when asked to perform a task for the Lord and others.