Cherished Memories

Cherished Memories

“I remember the days of old. I ponder all Your great works. I think about what You have done.” Psalm 143:5

This is the season of frenzied shopping, baking breads, and decorating cookies to give as gifts. We look forward to spending time with our families. The ones who are blood relatives and those who are relatives by the blood of the Lamb of God.

It’s the time for us to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ our Saviour!

Today I remembered a time seven years ago when I had the pleasure of watching my granddaughter, Madison, sing at her first Christmas concert. Is there anything more precious than those little ones shouting out the words to Christmas carols?

I watched a little one shout out “Hi Mom!” in the middle of a song. Another tiny girl pulled her dress up over her head, and another got tired and just sat. Madison held the hand of the little girl next to her and, after every song, they would raise their hands as if in victory.

My oldest grandson, Brandon, sat next to me. I couldn’t help remembering his first Christmas show and the performances of my other grandchildren, either at church or school. Oh, the wonderful memories I have.

After Madison’s performance we visited my mom at the care home. We took a little Christmas tree for her room. She was sound asleep, but her Aide assured me Mom had a really good day. We set up the tree then I stroked her head and kissed her. She didn’t even move.

Memories of long ago Christmases with her and Popi filled my mind. They always tried to make Christmas special for the three of us kids. I think my father was just as excited to see us opening our presents as we were in receiving them.

I also remember the time I sang “Hallelujah” so loud that it was mentioned every following Christmas accompanied by tons of laughter. I hated it then, but today I smile. It’s amazing those memories remain vivid after so many years. I can still remember and yearn for both. I miss them!

My parents also treated the coming of the Christ Child with a reverence we don’t often see in this day and age. It was a true time for giving thanks because the Babe in that manager would grow into a Man who would give His life to save us from sin.

“Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!” 2 Corinthians 9:15

Oh, Yes! Our memories are gifts from God. We can take them out and unwrap them one at a time-—savor them over and over again.

Today God gave me that gift and I am beyond thankful for it. I smile as I think of the next generation’s Christmas performances that are coming up. I can’t wait!

by Eve Montano

Not So Silent Night

Not So Silent Night

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”
Isaiah 7:14

Silent night, Holy night!

I don’t think the stable where Mary gave birth was quiet. Instead, I imagine donkeys neighing, pigs oinking and lambs baaing. Add to this noise the moans of a teenage girl and the worried words of her frightened husband. Then, in their midst, a baby’s cry is heard, followed by the relieved laughter of Joseph. The baby is placed in his mother’s outstretched arms and, for a moment, sound and movement cease. The night has become Holy. In that miraculous moment of silence, mother and child gaze into each other’s eyes. A smile forms on Mary's tired face and tears of gratitude fall from her eyes. A prayer of thanksgiving is whispered.

In the distance is the sound of thousands upon thousands of angels singing—announcing the birth of our Savior and King. As the chorus ends, every untethered animal slowly walks toward Mary and Baby JESUS. Mary uncovers His face so they, too, can gaze at their King. Joseph takes the baby and places Him gently in the manger, while shepherds arrive and breathlessly proclaim, “There—he’s in there…”

The first Christmas has come. The gift giver is God the Father. The gift is God the Son—begotten by God the Holy Spirit.

"She will bear a Son, and you shall call his name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins." Matthew 1:21

Are You Wise?

Are You Wise?

“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem.”
Matthew 2:1

Heaven came to Earth. The Son of God became the Son of Man. He came for us.

We needed to be saved from our sins—from our sin nature. Sin separated us from God.

He missed the fellowship we had with him in the Garden before sin entered into the world. Sound overly simplistic? Perhaps, but it is what happened.

“All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.”
2 Corinthian 5:18-19

There really aren’t adequate words to describe this kind of love and tenderness. The closest that comes to it is the relationship between a loving parent and child. God the Father sent His Son, Jesus Christ our Saviour, to draw us back to Him and away from a world that is harsh and wicked. He brings hope and deliverance from the enslavement of sin, fear, brokenness and darkness.

“When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.”
Matthew 2:10

The Wise men sought him, the King of the Jews. It is said that wise men still seek Him. He is not so hard to find. The Bible is rich with facts of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. There are love letters for you to drink in. There is the HIStory of Jesus and His followers, who turned the world upside down with the simple message of the gospel of truth. Prayer opens your heart to Him. It also opens the eyes of your heart to see Jesus Christ, your Savior.

How wise are you? This Christmas consider the tree that Jesus hung on. Take that first step to gaining wisdom and fall on your knees and worship Him.

‘And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother and they fell down and worshiped Him.” Matthew 2:11

The World Changer

The World Changer

“And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” Luke 2:7

Into a cold night the Christ Child was born. Although the heavens opened and a chorus of angels sang, their audience was not one of princes or kings, but shepherds. I imagine heaven could not contain itself and had to herald him into the world he had created!

Jesus our Savior came with no roof over his head—born in a barn. God chose to teach us humility by coming in the most humble manner. He came, not to be served, but to serve. The lesson started on the day of his birth. Innocent and meek. Dependent and defenseless. Not what was expected of a King. Oh, and what a lesson to be learned. One where pride had no place. Instead, the love of God was demonstrated by obedience—lived out in faith and trust.

“For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.” Romans 5:19

A miracle happened on a cold night in Bethlehem. A promise was fulfilled. The strength of heaven came as a helpless Babe.

Miracles are still happening. God’s still choosing the humble over the proud, using the meek instead of the strong, and the selfless over the selfish. He still provides salvation to those who trust and have faith in him.

Do you believe God can change the world by using the weak? By using the vulnerable? By a baby?

I believe he already has!

“Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world—things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. 1 Corinthians 1:27-28 (NLT)

God is With Us

God Is With Us

“All right then, the LORD himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’).” Isaiah 7:14

Every year it seems there is more emphasis on the marketability of the Christmas season than there seems to be an appreciation for the real reason for the season—Jesus. Some sorrowful believers have penned poems about the substitution of the Santa-myth for the truth of God’s perfect gift.

“Twas the night before Christmas and it seemed such a shame,
not a soul mentioned our dear Savior by name.
They talked about Santa and the reindeer and elves
as their dust-covered Bibles just lay on the shelf.”

The baby in the manger—heralded to lowly shepherds by an angelic choir and illuminated to the Magi by the star in the east—came to give us hope. The message of Christmas is that God sent us his Son, Immanuel, to be our Savior.

What is it you are needing this Christmas? Jesus is the best giving-and-receiving gift ever. Have you considered that every book of the Bible, God’s Word to us, proclaims God’s Son?

The Apostle John wrote Jesus has been with us from the beginning (John 1:1-3). Read and savor how each book reveals who our Immanuel is.

Genesis: Jesus is the Creator who promises to redeem all of creation as the promised seed of Abraham.
Exodus: Jesus is the Passover Lamb whose blood saves those who are under it.
Leviticus: Jesus is the ultimate High Priest who offers Himself to atone for the sins of His people.
Numbers: Jesus is the Bread of Life, sustaining the people of God and the Living Water from the Rock, quenching their thirst.
Deuteronomy: Jesus is the obedient son who earns the blessing but freely takes the curse so His brothers and sisters may be blessed as well.
Joshua: Jesus is the one who conquers the enemies of God’s people and leads them to victory and rest.
Judges: Jesus is the one who delivers His people from injustice and reminds them of God’s covenant faithfulness.
Ruth: Jesus is the kinsman-redeemer who provides abundantly for the foreigner and the widow.
1-2 Samuel: Jesus is the righteous King who is also the faithful Prophet and the holy Priest.
1-2 Kings: Jesus is the King who gives an easy yoke to His people and unites them in love.
1-2 Chronicles: Jesus is the Son of David who reigns forever with justice and mercy.
Ezra: Jesus is the faithful priest sent to instruct and encourage the people of God.
Nehemiah: Jesus is the one who restores His broken people and leads them to restore that which was broken around them.
Esther: Jesus is the faithful One who reigns over kingdoms and individuals even when He is not recognized.
Job: Jesus is the voice of wisdom calling us to glorify the Sovereign God of Creation.
Psalms: Jesus is the True Song declaring God’s glory to His people and to the nations.
Proverbs: Jesus is the wisdom of God guiding the people of God through the trials of life.
Ecclesiastes: Jesus is the Eternal Wisdom giving purpose to our brief lives.
Song of Songs: Jesus is the Faithful Husband rejoicing in the beauty of His Bride.
Isaiah: Jesus is the Suffering Servant whose wounds heal His people.
Jeremiah: Jesus is the Righteous Branch offering shelter to all who will come to Him in faith.
Lamentations: Jesus is the prophet who weeps for the disobedience of God’s people and the one who will restore them.
Ezekiel: Jesus is the Son of Man who brings life back to God’s people by sending the Spirit to resurrect them.
Daniel: Jesus is the Son of Man enthroned over the nations who nonetheless walks through trials with His people.
Hosea: Jesus is the Husband who is faithful even when His Bride is not.
Joel: Jesus is the one who restores what the locust has eaten and sends the Holy Spirit to His people.
Amos: Jesus is the one who proclaims justice for all regardless of wealth or fame.
Obadiah: Jesus is the brother who never fails His kinsmen.
Jonah: Jesus is the prophet declaring salvation for even the most unlikely of people.
Micah: Jesus is the lowborn peasant who reigns through justice and mercy to bring God’s salvation.
Nahum: Jesus is the judge who offers mercy but will assuredly bring justice if rejected.
Habbakuk: Jesus is the all-sufficient righteousness of God who enables perseverance through trials.
Zephaniah: Jesus is the missionary judge calling all people to receive mercy and a new identity.
Haggai: Jesus is the one who restores worship in the people of God.
Zechariah: Jesus is the humble King who allows Himself to be pierced for His people’s salvation.
Malachi: Jesus is the Lord who remembers His servants and sets them apart from those who do evil.
Matthew: Jesus is the Messiah who fulfills the Law and sends His people to proclaim the good news.
Mark: Jesus is the Messiah who serves the people of God.
Luke: Jesus is the Messiah who seeks and saves the lost.
John: Jesus is the Messiah reconciling God and man.
Acts: Jesus is the Lord who sends His people to proclaim and establish outposts of His kingdom everywhere.
Romans: Jesus is the righteousness of God accessible to all who confess Him as Lord and believe in His resurrection.
1 Corinthians: Jesus is revealed in the lives of His people and they ought to live in love, holiness, and unity as a result.
2 Corinthians: Jesus is the promise made to God’s people of what’s to come.
Galatians: Jesus is the only thing God’s people need.
Ephesians: Jesus is the source of unity and salvation.
Philippians: Jesus is the source of joy and humility.
Colossians: Jesus is the source of all things and the life of His people.
1 Thessalonians: Jesus is the encouragement His people need for the present and the hope they need for the future.
2 Thessalonians: Jesus is the coming Judge who will avenge the people of God.
1 Timothy: Jesus is the Savior of the worst who provides for their life in community.
2 Timothy: Jesus is a treasure worth guarding and sharing.
Titus: Jesus is the standard of truth against which every teacher is measured.
Philemon: Jesus is the one who calls His people to unity regardless of status, history, & other considerations.
Hebrews: Jesus is better than everything.
James: Jesus doesn’t accept lip-service but calls His people to whole-hearted service.
1 Peter: Jesus is the example for God’s people to remain faithful in the midst of suffering.
2 Peter: Jesus is the one who ends the history of sin and restores creation in righteousness.
1 John: Jesus is Love.
2 John: Jesus is Truth.
3 John: Jesus is Good.
Jude: Jesus is the one who has mercy on us and keeps us from stumbling.
Revelation: Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords who makes all things new.

Immanuel. God with us. God in human form. We couldn’t reach heaven on our own, so Jesus came to earth to make the way. He says to us today,

I’m here. Call on me.”

So, Sisters, will you not seek him out and invite him in? To live in your heart…now and forever? He is all you need and will ever need.

Jesus is who you are longing for.

Wise men sought him out and followed the star. They were diligent seekers for the truth. They had eyes to see and ears to hear to be diligent observers in their studies and searching.

They were willing to follow the evidence and go wherever it led. It took them many months. By staying the course—finishing strong with determination—they recognized who Jesus was and worshipped him.

“O come let us worship and bow down: Let us kneel before the Lord, our maker…” Psalm 95:6

In the silence, as he speaks…will you be wise or otherwise? Hope is on the way.

offered by Peggy Carson