Category: Journey-to-the-manger

Journey to the Manger: Giving

12/23/2016

16 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, 17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 NIV

What a blessing you have been during our journey to the manger! Dear Reader, I pray seeking, going, and watching have brought you closer to the Babe who patiently looks forward to our "Giving".

What's been on your Christmas shopping list this year, Dear Reader? A toaster for one, an art book for another, princess Legos? If you could give any gift to a loved one, what would it be? A cruise, college tuition, a new car?

1 John (4:19) tells us that we love because God loved us first. Perhaps we are blessed in giving to the ones we love because...

God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16 NIV

Dear Reader, over and over God shows how much he loves us by giving. Studying John's gospel has allowed me to ponder and praise God for his love. Chapter sixteen tells us of God's promise to give when we seek:

“This is what I want you to do: Ask the Father for whatever is in keeping with the things I’ve revealed to you. Ask in my name, according to my will, and he’ll most certainly give it to you. Your joy will be a river overflowing its banks!"
John 16:23-24 MSG

Our heavenly Father wants us to ask so he can give. How fantastic is that! And what does he expect in return? Only what he knows is best for us:

“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, ..." Deuteronomy 10:12 RSV

We've almost finished our journey together, Dear Reader. The manger lies just ahead. Our Heavenly Father gave us his very best gift of by giving his Son, Jesus Christ. Are we ready to give him our best gift in return?

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Journey to the Manger: Watching

12/16/2016

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8 That night, some shepherds were in the fields nearby watching their sheep. 9 An angel of the Lord stood before them. The glory of the Lord was shining around them, and suddenly they became very frightened.
Luke 2:8-9 ICB

The manger beckons us as we find our selves "Going." We are close enough to the manger to see, to watch, to become part of the event that changed the world.

What do you enjoy watching during Advent, Dear Reader? Are you a pushover for old holiday movies, like me? In the hustle and bustle I always find time for "White Christmas" and "Meet Me in St. Louis", joyful reminders of Daddy and Mama.

Are there Christmas cantatas and children's programs on the schedule? While looking forward to programs with Annalyn and Gracie, I'm so excited to be celebrating "Lessons and Carols" with James again this year. Whether it's scared stiff 9 year-olds singing for a church service, or hundreds singing James' arrangements of age old carols, it's watching faces of joy and reverence that bless my heart.

One of the things I also enjoy watching during the holidays is ordinary moments, like watching sheep, turn into extraordinary blessings. Shopping trips are full of them! Doors held, packages carried, runaway carts captured, errant children corralled.

The shepherds were minding their own business, doing what needed to be done. No time and a half, no days off, just sheep. But God burst into their ordinary in an extravagant way. We don't even know the shepherds' names, but God did.

God knows our names, and our hearts, too.

My favorite thing to watch during Christmas is the expressions on the faces of the ones I love. You know that expression when a dear one opens the "perfect"gift.

I wonder if those faces reflect the wonder on the faces of the shepherds. Faces that show, more than words can possibly express, the joy in knowing they are loved.

Dear Reader, my prayer for you is be on both sides of the perfect gift, loving and being loved, and knowing we share in the greatest love of all.

Our journey brings us into touching distance of the manger as we complete our journey to the manger next week. Join me as we respond to the greatest love of all by "Giving".

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Journey to the Manger: Going

12/9/2016

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2 About this time Caesar Augustus, the Roman emperor, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the nation. 2 (This census was taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.)
3 Everyone was required to return to his ancestral home for this registration. 4 And because Joseph was a member of the royal line, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, King David’s ancient home—journeying there from the Galilean village of Nazareth. 5 He took with him Mary, his fiancée, who was obviously pregnant by this time.
Luke 2:1-5 TLB

Last week we began our journey to the manger by "Seeking". We can rejoice that no matter what we are seeking. We can take comfort that God knows and longs to respond to our biggest questions and satisfy our greatest thirsts.

Where will you be going this Advent season, Dear Reader? Are you off to Christmas programs, open houses, shopping, worship?It can be a little daunting, can't it?

When I think about going, I think about the life changing times when my family has gone. Going halfway across the country to a new life. Going across a college campus after a seventeen year absence. Going across the state toward a new career path. Going across the ocean to see places I'd only read and dreamed about. Going . . .

There's been speculation about exactly how far Mary and Joseph had to go to Bethlehem. No matter the distance, there's probably no speculation about the discomfort of the trip. And still they went.

The very act of going for Mary and Joseph is rich in lessons for us today:

they were obedient to the demands of their government; (Jesus said to them, “Pay to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” Mark 12:17a AMP)
they seemingly weren't concerned about their comfort; (Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ Matthew 6:31 NASB)
they were hospitable to the visitors who came to the manger; (Don’t forget to be kind to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! Hebrews 13:2 TLB)
they were flexible when there was no room in the inns. (14 You don't even know what your life tomorrow will be! You are like a puff of smoke, which appears for a moment and then disappears.15 What you should say is this: “If the Lord is willing, we will live and do this or that.” James 4:14-15 GNT)

We see and hear a great deal about Mary. There's little to learn about Joseph. We don't question God choosing them as individuals.

When I really begin to think about Mary and Joseph going, I begin to see that God surely chose them for more than themselves. It seems that he also chose them as a couple, a team. And after all, going is always better when we go with someone.

Where are you going, Dear Reader? I pray you have godly companionship for the journey, and beyond!

Thank you for continuing to share the journey to the manger. As we draw closer next week, we will be "watching".

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Journey to the Manger: Seeking

12/2/2016

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2 Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem in Judea during the time when Herod was king. After Jesus was born, some wise men from the east came to Jerusalem. 2 They asked people, “Where is the child who has been born to be the king of the Jews? We saw the star that shows he was born. We saw it rise in the sky in the east and have come to worship him.”
Matthew 2:1-5 ERV

Dear Reader, what are you seeking this Advent season? A job promotion? A new, or better, relationship? Maybe you have your eye on a new house? Or maybe a Caribbean cruise?

Perhaps you're seeking more. Perhaps you're seeking peace, or joy, or hope.

If you're seeking during this Advent season, take heart. The Magi sought, too. They sought, and they found! If that's not encouragement enough, the child they sought gives us this assurance:

7 “Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
Matthew 7:7-8 RSV

Come, Dear Reader! Let us start this journey to the manger together! Let us seek the Savior!

Join me next we as we continue our journey to the manger by simply "Going".

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You are invited . . .

11/25/2016

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Journey to the Manger: Giving

Journey to the Manger: Watching

Journey to the Manger: Going

Journey to the Manger: Seeking

You are invited . . .

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