Submitted by: Sandra Harris Frey
A few years ago on a visit to my brother’s house, I noticed just how bright and shining the stars were that evening. Since I live in a larger city, the city lights downplay the brightness of the stars in the sky. He lives in a more rural area and the sky was captivating that evening. It was a clear night. So many stars. So bright and twinkling. So beautiful.
When I think of the stars in the sky, my mind always goes to the one beautiful star many years ago that led three very wise men to a stable. In that stable was a manger. In that manger was a newborn baby boy. His name was Jesus. He would grow up to heal the sick, to feed the hungry, to spread the word of God’s love, and to be brutally beaten and nailed to a wooden cross to die just to save us from our sins.
Would you have sacrificed your son to die for the sins of others? The next time you are star gazing, think of that little baby born in a stable, lying in a manger and the eternal love, hope, and peace he gave to the world.
Matthew 2: 9 – 11
...and the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Monday, December 24, 2007
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Following the Lord's Command
By: Sandra Harris Frey
Last week, I wrote about Joseph and Mary making the journey to Bethlehem. Remember, nine months pregnant traveling via donkey? When they arrived in Bethlehem there was no room for them in the inn and Joseph had to find accommodations for them in a nearby stable.
However, we must back up a bit in the story to one of the greatest pledges of faith. Joseph was betrothed to Mary when he found out that she was with child. Not wanting to cause her any humiliation than was necessary, he decided to quietly end their relationship.
That night, an angel of the Lord came to Joseph in a dream and explained to him that Mary was to give birth to the child of the Holy Spirit and they were to call him Jesus for he would save the world from their sins.
Would you have listened to our Lord’s command from a dream? Would you have married and raised the child of God? Joseph had enough devotion and trust in our Lord’s word that he did exactly as the angel instructed.
Matthew 1:18 - 25
18This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 19Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. 20But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." 22All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” - which means, "God with us." 24When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
Last week, I wrote about Joseph and Mary making the journey to Bethlehem. Remember, nine months pregnant traveling via donkey? When they arrived in Bethlehem there was no room for them in the inn and Joseph had to find accommodations for them in a nearby stable.
However, we must back up a bit in the story to one of the greatest pledges of faith. Joseph was betrothed to Mary when he found out that she was with child. Not wanting to cause her any humiliation than was necessary, he decided to quietly end their relationship.
That night, an angel of the Lord came to Joseph in a dream and explained to him that Mary was to give birth to the child of the Holy Spirit and they were to call him Jesus for he would save the world from their sins.
Would you have listened to our Lord’s command from a dream? Would you have married and raised the child of God? Joseph had enough devotion and trust in our Lord’s word that he did exactly as the angel instructed.
Matthew 1:18 - 25
18This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 19Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. 20But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." 22All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” - which means, "God with us." 24When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
God's Promises
You say: 'It's impossible'
God says: All things are possible
(Luke 18:27)
You say: 'I'm too tired'
God says: I will give you rest
(Matthew 11:28-30)
You say: 'Nobody really loves me'
God says: I love you
(John 3:1 6 & John 3:34 )
You say: 'I can't go on'
God says: My grace is sufficient
(II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)
You say: 'I can't figure things out'
God says: I will direct your steps
(Proverbs 3:5- 6)
You say: 'I can't do it'
God says: You can do all things
(Philippians 4:13)
You say: 'I'm not able'
God says: I am able
(II Corinthians 9:8)
You say: 'It's not worth it'
God says: It will be worth it
(Roman 8:28 )
You say: 'I can't forgive myself'
God says: I Forgive you
(I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)
You say: 'I can't manage'
God says: I will supply all your needs
(Philippians 4:19)
You say: 'I'm afraid'
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear
(II Timothy 1:7)
You say: 'I'm always worried and frustrated'
God says: Cast all your cares on ME
(I Peter 5:7)
You say: 'I'm not smart enough'
God says: I give you wisdom
(I Corinthians 1:30)
You say: 'I feel all alone'
God says: I will never leave you or forsake you
(Hebrews 13:5)
God says: All things are possible
(Luke 18:27)
You say: 'I'm too tired'
God says: I will give you rest
(Matthew 11:28-30)
You say: 'Nobody really loves me'
God says: I love you
(John 3:1 6 & John 3:34 )
You say: 'I can't go on'
God says: My grace is sufficient
(II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)
You say: 'I can't figure things out'
God says: I will direct your steps
(Proverbs 3:5- 6)
You say: 'I can't do it'
God says: You can do all things
(Philippians 4:13)
You say: 'I'm not able'
God says: I am able
(II Corinthians 9:8)
You say: 'It's not worth it'
God says: It will be worth it
(Roman 8:28 )
You say: 'I can't forgive myself'
God says: I Forgive you
(I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)
You say: 'I can't manage'
God says: I will supply all your needs
(Philippians 4:19)
You say: 'I'm afraid'
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear
(II Timothy 1:7)
You say: 'I'm always worried and frustrated'
God says: Cast all your cares on ME
(I Peter 5:7)
You say: 'I'm not smart enough'
God says: I give you wisdom
(I Corinthians 1:30)
You say: 'I feel all alone'
God says: I will never leave you or forsake you
(Hebrews 13:5)
Monday, December 3, 2007
The Basic Needs
By: Sandra Harris Frey
The holiday season is filled with shopping, decorating, cooking, baking, traveling, and of course, the family visits to your home or traveling to visit family. This can all become very stressful since we are always on a timeline and our list seems to grow and grow each year. We have it pretty easy considering everything that Mary and Joseph were faced with many years ago.
Can you imagine being nine months pregnant, traveling via donkey, and upon reaching your destination you find that there isn’t a room to be had? I need to emphasize the words nine months pregnant traveling via donkey. Joseph found basic needs for his family that night. A warm place to rest and food to eat. It was in a barn and our Lord was born in a manger, but Joseph had the faith to find a place to stay even if it wasn’t an inn.
Do we have that kind of faith? Do we just find what we need? Here’s an interesting concept. Let’s put the “wants” aside this holiday and give of ourselves to others in need. I’m pretty sure most of us have all that we need. Trust me, there’s someone out there today who could use a prayer, a coat, a warm place to sleep, a hot meal, and the story of Jesus being born in a manger.
Luke 2:1-7 - The Birth of Jesus
At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, his fiancée, who was now obviously pregnant. And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.
The holiday season is filled with shopping, decorating, cooking, baking, traveling, and of course, the family visits to your home or traveling to visit family. This can all become very stressful since we are always on a timeline and our list seems to grow and grow each year. We have it pretty easy considering everything that Mary and Joseph were faced with many years ago.
Can you imagine being nine months pregnant, traveling via donkey, and upon reaching your destination you find that there isn’t a room to be had? I need to emphasize the words nine months pregnant traveling via donkey. Joseph found basic needs for his family that night. A warm place to rest and food to eat. It was in a barn and our Lord was born in a manger, but Joseph had the faith to find a place to stay even if it wasn’t an inn.
Do we have that kind of faith? Do we just find what we need? Here’s an interesting concept. Let’s put the “wants” aside this holiday and give of ourselves to others in need. I’m pretty sure most of us have all that we need. Trust me, there’s someone out there today who could use a prayer, a coat, a warm place to sleep, a hot meal, and the story of Jesus being born in a manger.
Luke 2:1-7 - The Birth of Jesus
At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, his fiancée, who was now obviously pregnant. And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.
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