24/12/2023
A Christmas message I wrote to share with all you. Merry Christmas ❤️🎄
Our God Is An Awesome God
It’s that time of year when we all gather to reflect on our lives. Often I’ll sit around talking about all the important events that led up to this moment and the countless acts of kindness. This time something else sparked inside of me.
How many times do we think about God’s love? How many times around the season do we look up at the sky and think about that Star? Think about Mary being cold, weary, hungry, and scared on her journey to Bethlehem? How many times do we reflect on the birth of our Savior?
Christmas Eve has always been a time honored tradition for many of us. Perhaps you gather with the family to go to a candlelight service. Maybe you gather for the holiday meal and presents afterwards. Some may even go watch the nativity scene. Others sit around the fireplace and watch their favorite Christmas movies making them feel good about nostalgic memories.
Growing up we would go to the family gathering and the candlelight service to worship our Savior Jesus Christ birth. We would be grateful for all the prayers answered and thankful we made it another year. Our favorite Christmas songs would play as we talked about all the countless kindness moments that we shared with strangers and friends.
A reflection of the love of Christ. Isn’t that what this season is all about?
”And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.“
Matthew 1:21 KJV
”Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet,
saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.“
Matthew 1:22-25 KJV
God likes to share things with me in ways that are creative and soul searching. He knows I like to go deep since I’m always asking questions. I’ve been asking questions since I was first brought to the alter of salvation as a little girl, and all I wanted to do was talk about Jesus. Whenever I’m in the word, worship, church, prayer, dreams, writing, or devotion I ask questions. God will show me in His own way what He wants me to see.
This time around I was reflecting about my favorite Christmas song “ One Small Child” by David Meece.
One small child in a land of a thousand
One small dream of a Savior tonight
One small hand reaching out to the starlight
One small Savior of life
One king bringing his gold and riches
One king ruling an army of might
One king kneeling with incense and candlelight
One king bringing us life
See Him lying a cradle beneath Him
See Him smiling in the stall
See His mother praising His Father
See His tiny eyelids fall
See the shepherds kneeling before Him
See the kings on bended knee
Oh, See the mother praising the Father
See the Blessed infant sleep.
One small child in a land of a thousand
One small dream of a Savior tonight
One small hand reaching out to the starlight
One small Savior of life
God showed me that in this song I’ve loved my entire life there is a deeply profound message.
That same tiny hand that reached out to the starlight is the hand that would heal the sick. That same tiny hand would feed the 5,000. That same tiny hand would make the blind man see. That same tiny hand would be pierced for our transgressions. That same tiny hand would be nailed to the cross, and with love pour out precious blood for all our sins.
”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. 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.
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 Savior, 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.
And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
Luke 2:4-20KJV
Mary as she held that tiny hand in hers did not know any of this. She just looked upon the face of her precious baby with all the love a mother could give. She didn’t know that in 33 years that same hand she’d held so close would be nailed to a cross. My heart always breaks for the mother. Nothing can ever be more painful than seeing your own son mocked, tortured, beaten, and killed for the sins of the world. Mary watched the whole thing as she never left his side. She sat there at the foot of his cross and wept. From the cradle to the grave in 33 years. Mary loved her precious baby. Jesus would rise again and promise a place for us in his Father’s house.
”For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.“
John 3:17 KJV
God knows the end from the beginning. Our God is an Awesome God. Our God is an all consuming fire. Our God has prepared a way for us to come home. He tells us all about it in His word. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. All who come to him will find salvation. There is no other way but through Christ. We must all come meet him at the alter. Jesus doesn’t mind if we come with a lot of questions . He will answer them in his own specific way, and in a way you will understand.
”And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.“
John 1:5 KJV
Jesus stepped into a dark and broken world not to condemn it. He brought the light of salvation into a dark and dying world in order to save it. He asks us all to pick up our cross and follow him. It wasn’t easy for those who followed him in the bible times. Never allow anyone to get it all twisted in thinking the Christian walk is an easy one. It’s full of trials and tribulations. But as long as we have the love of Christ dwelling inside of us there is nothing to fear.
”Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.“
Isaiah 41:10 KJV
As you get ready for a new year put on the full armor of God. Don’t walk into the battlefield unarmed. Don’t be caught off guard by the darts of the enemy. Remember if God is for you no one can be against you.
”Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things:
Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts.
Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.“
Ephesians 6:10-24 KJV
