Tag: Christmas

It’s almost Christmas!  Things are busy at our house just like they are at yours I’m sure.  Sometimes it almost seems too busy for our own good.  We, as Christians, keep squalling about keeping Jesus the Reason for the season and that Christmas is too commercialized and…you fill in the blank.  But if you think back to that first Christmas some 2,000 years ago, I am almost positive that Heaven was super busy too!  How would you get a multitude of Heavenly Hosts ready to sing to those shepherds?  I’m sure the Father made certain that they sounded their best when they welcomed His Son to earth, so there had to be choir practice!

Think of all the instructions that the angels had to carry out before all of this took place.  I am sure that they were listening to God and getting the instructions just right on what to say to Elizabeth, Zachariah, Mary and the dreams that they needed to stick in Joseph’s mind so it could all be fulfilled.  Maybe Christ’s birth has been a busy time since day one.  I’m grasping here I know but I don’t think things in Heaven ever slow down too much.

If you think about it, this time of the year is when we, as God’s children, should be busy.  This is the time of the year when a lot of people will open up their hearts to the greatest thing on earth, when some of these people, who will never darken a church door any other time, will come to church and hear the Gospel.  We, as Christians, have a chance to minister to them and others that need our help.  It’s a time of year when the love of Christ can shine through and people don’t mind it.  Maybe we, as the Body of Christ, can reach out to our neighbor whose is in need and give them a hand, or a plate of cookies or whatever God lays on your heart to do.

As somebody sang once, “It’s The Most Wonderful Time of The Year!” But maybe you’re not feeling it right now. Maybe you as a mature Christian are feeling the hurt of a relationship or the pain of a doctor’s report or the strain of finances. The folks at Canelo Cowboy Church want to help, just let us know how. We’re here for you. And maybe you might want to reach out to your neighbor. They may be hurting worse than you and you can bring that Christmas joy they need.

Merry Christmas! Please let me know if you need anything.  Naomi and I love you all.

Last week we talked about Mary and her being able to trust God in each and every situation no matter how messed up it seemed. This week I want to talk about Joseph, the guy Mary was supposed to marry when the time came and then as you know, Mary showed up pregnant and, well put yourself in Joseph’s sandals!
I find it interesting that in Matthews Gospel that Matthew is quick to point out that Joseph was a righteous man (Matthew 1:19) and he was ready to divorce her quietly so Mary wouldn’t be disgraced publicly. In other words he would sign the necessary legal papers so she wouldn’t be judged publicly like the law commanded (Deuteronomy 22:22-23). It wasn’t because Joseph didn’t know the law. The word righteous to a Jew usually meant that he knew and kept the commandments. When the word is used here its meaning is, “It was not consistent to his unrighteousness to let her be publicly judged.” I am convinced that Joseph was hurting! He was wondering “How could she do this to me?” just like the rest of us would be doing. And we’d want revenge! But not Joseph. He was a just man as King James translated the word.
And then while Joseph was considering this an angel appears to him in a dream and said that Joseph shouldn’t be afraid of taking Mary to be his wife because, “what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” Now I don’t know about you, but I’d be wondering if an angel really appeared to me in a dream of maybe one of the lamb chops I ate for supper was a little bit tainted! She had to have been cheating because he knew how babies are made. But the Bible says that when Joseph woke up he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded and took Mary home to be his wife (Matthew 1:24). No questions asked. He just did it.
It reminds me of the Scripture in Proverbs 3:5&6, “Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.” Whatever tough decision you need to make, you just need to acknowledge Him. Talk to Him. Ask Him for wisdom in whatever circumstance you find yourself in and He is going to help you figure out which path to take! God desires a relationship with you just like that! He wants to be involved in your life and show you what’s right for you! He’s your Father!
Merry Christmas! Naomi and I love you all.