Category: December2017

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The Gift of Tradition

A big complaint that you hear this time of year is that Christmas is over commercialized and I certainly agree with that. My question is what are you doing about it? (I’ll pause for a moment to give you an opportunity to think about it).

When our kids were small Christmas wasn’t about them, it was about Jesus – His birthday was the focus of our celebration. Yes, they did get presents from family and friends but our hearts were set on giving. We would go shopping for dolls and trucks and then pack them in a big box and send them off to a ministry that gave them to orphanages. One year, our youngest, had a Christmas party inviting her friends and asked them each to bring a toy that could be given to Toys for Tots and our churches often had “Angel Trees” where we could chose to buy something for a child.

Another thing, we had a tree but it wasn’t our focus. The Nativity was the highlight of our Christmas decorating. It was large and filled a table top. Today it is still one of the first, if not the only, things that is placed when I decorate.

I told you a few days ago about the candy canes and giving them out while you were out doing your normal shopping. And of course, the first thing we do on Christmas morning is open the Bible and read the Christmas story. Even now when it’s just Dave and I we still read the Christmas story. One year we were streaming live with our kids and grandkids so that they could have Pappy read the Christmas story.

I encourage you to share with us your “Christ-centered” Christmas traditions. Tradition is good. It serves as a reminder of meaningful times. In fact the Bible is filled with traditional celebrations and the Lord said those celebrations were to be a reminder to His people of the way He provided for them in the past. We are the ones that must keep the true meaning of Christmas alive in our hearts and the hearts of our children and grandchildren.

” Then Joshua said to the people, “Now you have heard the Lord’s words. So you must respect the Lord and sincerely serve him. Throw away the false gods that your ancestors worshiped. That was something that happened a long time ago on the other side of the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Now you must serve only the Lord. 15 “But maybe you don’t want to serve the Lord. You must choose for yourselves today. Today you must decide who you will serve. Will you serve the gods that your ancestors worshiped when they lived on the other side of the Euphrates River? Or will you serve the gods of the Amorites who lived in this land? You must choose for yourselves. But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.” 16 Then the people answered, “We will never stop following the Lord. We will never serve other gods!” Joshua 24:14-16 ERV

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The Gift of Adoption

I recently watched a video of a young couple who adopted a little baby girl. It was a very touching story – made me cry! Their desire for this child was overwhelming; the news of her birth filled their hearts with joy and their eyes with tears. Then came the moment that they saw her for the very first time – the cradled her in their arms, kissed her repeatedly and yes, there were more tears. Finally they had the opportunity to introduce her to the rest of the family, grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles and nieces and nephews. What joy!

The video finally ended with them speaking vows of commitment to her. (Remember the power of words) They united themselves to her, to love and provide for her, to give her everything she needed (not wanted) for life. They promised to protect, to nurture, to love, to encourage, to listen, to correct.

An adopted child is a chosen child. Your heart reaches out to hold what you didn’t conceive. The bond is just as strong!

Did you know that we have all received the gift of adoption?

The Apostle Paul writes about that in Ephesians and Romans and tells us that we have been adopted by God in heaven and it’s Jesus would did all that was necessary to make the adoption complete.

“Before the world was created, God had Christ choose us to live with him and to be his holy and innocent and loving people. 5 God was kind and decided that Christ would choose us to be God’s own adopted children. 6 God was very kind to us because of the Son he dearly loves, and so we should praise God.” Ephesians 1:4-6 CEV

And in another translation

“Even as [in His love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above reproach, before Him in love.

5 For He foreordained us (destined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as His own children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the purpose of His will [because it pleased Him and was His kind intent]—

6 [So that we might be] to the praise and the commendation of His glorious grace (favor and mercy), which He so freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.” Ephesians 1:4-6 AMP

Read through that again. I know it’s lengthy but break it down phrase by phrase. God the Father, the loving heavenly father, picked us out from himself. He made a way for us to be blameless (that’s grace) and He loves us!

We’re His kids and He wants us to come Him the same way loving, earthly fathers want their kids to come to them. He wants to teach, protect us, enjoy life with us. He wants us to come often and with excitement to be in his presence.

“The true children of God are those who let God’s Spirit lead them. 15 The Spirit that we received is not a spirit that makes us slaves again and causes us to fear. The Spirit that we have makes us God’s chosen (adopted) children. And with that Spirit we cry out, “ Abba,(Daddy) Father.” 16 And the Spirit himself speaks to our spirits and makes us sure that we are God’s children.” Romans 8:14-16 ERV

My Dad was a good guy – I enjoyed my time of hunting and fishing with him. He was strong and protective. He was honest and accepting. He wasn’t perfect and he was a strict and a disciplinarian but he taught me right from wrong. He was a good example of what a dad should be so when I think about my heavenly Father I have a good basis of what a Father is and does. I know that not everyone has that ability because their earthly fathers weren’t kind.

Let me leave you with one verse this morning.

“So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved kindness, and we will find help.” Hebrews 4:16 CEV

Take time to go to your Heavenly Father this morning and thank Him for adopting you. Thank Him that you were chosen and that He invites you to come to Him any time, no matter the need and that He will help and treat you with kindness. And then, if you don’t have a good image of a Father, ask Him to show you what it really means to be his adopted child. He’ll be glad to demonstrate His love in a way that you can understand!

“But God clearly shows and proves His own love for us, by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 AMP

Oh yes, what a joy to be adopted!

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The Gift of Constant Peace

And his name shall be called “Prince of Peace”.

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 KJV

Peace: quietness, stillness, rest, prosperity. Jesus came to bring peace.

I live in a small community so we don’t have many of the external factors that disturb the peace; we don’t have a lot of fires or accidents that bring the sirens, no traffic jams, or fighting for parking places. To us a crowd is more than 3 people in line at the grocery store and the biggest disturbance is the school bus that rushes down the road each morning or the Fed-X truck each afternoon. In fact, in the evening we can hear the deer as they walk through the brush on the lot next door, the quail calling for the chicks and the dove cooing in the trees.

But regardless of our lack of external factors, the internal ones are the same no matter where you are. Anxiety, interpersonal conflict, health concerns, financial issues – those affect everyone no matter where you live. A sense of peace was so important to God that he made it part of His name, “Prince of Peace”. The peace that He was referring too will bring us peace in all the areas listed above. He was talking about peace between God and man. I’ve heard it said that there are 365 verses in the Bible that tell us not to worry or be anxious or afraid; one for each day of the year!

“Glory to God in the highest [heaven], and on earth peace among men with whom He is well pleased [men of goodwill, of His favor].” Luke 2:14 AMP

Peace between God and man was broken in the garden of Eden when Adam sinned. Their relationship was affected and Christ came to restore that relationship. He came to reconcile the relationship between God and man.

“Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:1

Jesus spoke to his followers time and again about peace. And one of the last things He told them was this.

“Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]” John 14:26 AMP

This was His instruction right before His crucifixion. He was talking to them about peace. The angels announced His birth with peace and at His death he was still talking about peace.

I give you permission to open a Christmas present early this year. It’s probably the most valuable gift you’ll receive – untie the bow, open the box and the let peace of God, which bypasses our understanding, guard your heart and mind (Phil 4:7) and flood your life today.

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Gift of a Thirsty Soul

The image I am sharing with you this morning is one that was taken in our yard in Idaho about 15+ years ago. It had been a dry Spring and Summer. The natural springs and ponds were very low and some were dry. We lived in an area called the Rimrock north of Coeur d’Alene. It was a Saturday and we were all in the living room when the dogs started their low growl, you know, the one that means something’s up and they didn’t like it. Our living room southern wall was all windows. When we looked out this is what we saw.

A cow moose had brought her twin calves up to rest in the shade and she found water. They stood there was a while just letting the sprinkler hit them in the face and then she knelt down and wrapped her lips over the sprinkler head and just sucked up the water. I had never seen anything like it before or since. Her thirst was overwhelming. She needed the life giving water and would take it from whatever source was available. We had just been telling that sorry to some folks visiting in our home yesterday and here was the picture today.

This is the picture I see when I think of the Bible verse found in Psalms

“As a deer gets thirsty for streams of water, I truly am thirsty for you, my God. 2 In my heart, I am thirsty for you, the living God. When will I see your face?” Psalm 42:1-2 CEV

I’m sure you know that the human body can go longer without food than it can without water. Since our bodies are about 70% water, it is vitality important that we stay hydrated in order to be healthy. No, I’m not going into a teaching on health and nutrition. Just stating the facts. But it is important that we stay hydrated spiritually too.

“I remember to think about the many things you did in years gone by. 6 Then I lift my hands in prayer, because my soul is a desert, thirsty for water from you. 7 Please hurry, Lord, and answer my prayer. I feel hopeless. Don’t turn away and leave me here to die. Psalms 143:5-7 CEV

Have you ever felt that hopeless? Felt like you were completely dry on the inside and had nothing left to give? When it happens we become prey to thoughts of depression, loneliness, hopelessness. We need to have our souls watered – words of encouragement, comfort, kindness, love bring new life and hope back to our hearts.

“All you people who are thirsty, come! Here is water for you to drink. Don’t worry if you have no money. Come, eat and drink until you are full! You don’t need money. The milk and wine are free.
2 Why waste your money on something that is not real food? Why should you work for something that does not really satisfy you? Listen closely to me and you will eat what is good. You will enjoy the food that satisfies your soul. 3 Listen closely to what I say. Listen to me so that you will live. I will make an agreement with you that will last forever. It will be an agreement you can trust, like the one I made with David— a promise to love him and be loyal to him forever.” Isaiah 55:1-3 CEV

Over and over again throughout the Bible we see the reference that coming to the Lord, trusting Him is like receiving life giving water. Jesus told people he was the bread of life. By coming to Him they would find food that sustains, spiritual food, and water that will quench their thirst, soul refreshing.

“Then Jesus said, “I am the bread that gives life. No one who comes to me will ever be hungry. No one who believes in me will ever be thirsty. 36 I told you before that you have seen me, and still you don’t believe. 37 The Father gives me my people. Every one of them will come to me. I will always accept them. 38 I came down from heaven to do what God wants, not what I want.” John 6:35-38 ERV

Now I could tell you that there are many around us that are parched, badly in need of water and that’s true but I get the feeling this morning that some who are reading this are the ones who are parched. You feel dry and used up and just don’t know how much longer things can go on like this. I’ve been there!

Let me share one last very familiar group of verses with you.

“You, Lord, are my shepherd. I will never be in need. 2 You let me rest in fields of green grass. You lead me to streams of peaceful water, 3 and you refresh my life.” Psalm 23:1-3 CEV

When we come to the Lord he takes care of us like a good shepherd takes care of his sheep. He brings us to good pastures so we can eat and rest and He will refresh our souls just like water from a peaceful stream.

Thank you Lord for the gift of a thirsty soul because you give us life giving water.

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The Gift of Selflessness

A few days ago I told you about the books that I keep on my coffee table at Christmas. This morning I want to share with you the one that started the Christmas collection. The story was shared in the December issue of Arizona Highways magazine in 1973. It’s called The Selfish Giant by Oscar Wilde. I have no idea how many times it has been printed and the cover has changed over the years but the message is the same.

The story in a nutshell – is a selfish giant walls his beautiful garden so that children can’t come in and play. As a result the garden remains in a state of winter all year round and the giant becomes grumpier with each passing of the months. Then one day in the corner of his garden he notices that the birds are singing and the trees are green…the children found a break in the wall and came in to play. The giant is so glad to see them that he runs out to welcome them.

All the children see the giant running in their direction and scurry out of the garden. All except one little boy who doesn’t see the giant coming because he his eyes were filled with tears. You see he was too small to climb up in the tree and it made him so sad. The giant lifted the little boy into the tree and the little boy rewarded him with a hug and kiss.

On that day, the giant broke down the wall and the children were welcomed in. The children came to play with the giant in the garden but the little boy whom the giant had loved was never seen again and no one really knew who he was or where he lived. Years passed, the seasons came and went and the giant became old and feeble and each day he looked for the little boy.

One winter’s morning, in the far corner of the garden the giant saw a tree covered in blossoms and beneath it stood the little boy, the giant could barely believe it eyes. He ran to the boy and as he got close to him the giant’s face filled with anger. He could see that in the boy’s hands and feet were the prints of nails. “Who wounded you, I will slay them he shouted.” But the child told him “No, these are wounds of love”. And then the child said “You let me play in your garden once and today you shall come with me to my garden, Paradise.”

The giant gave love freely to one small child and it changed his life forever. We are all like that giant at one point, walls were built to keep others out. What actually happens with those emotional walls is they imprison us. We decide not to be hurt or inconvenienced but we also keep ourselves from loving and being present in the lives around us.

“I give you a new command: Love each other. You must love each other just as I loved you. 35 All people will know that you are my followers if you love each other.” John 13:34-35 ERV

The command Jesus gave us was one to love. It’s not a suggestion or even a good idea. It’s a command! And like any command given by a ranking officer the command has a purpose. In this case the purpose is so that “all” – A L L will know that we are his followers. God gets glory when we walk in love towards others. Jesus loves (present tense) unconditionally. He loves us on our good days and the bad. He loves us through our failures and in our successes. Plain and simple He loves us!

Today, we can share God’s love with someone and it will not only change their life but ours as well.

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The Gift of the Plan

Yesterday I showed you how the Lord has always used His words to bring things to pass. He has always had a plan. In fact, He is the master planner!

When I was in the business world, back in the dark ages before smart phones and computers, I operated my life from the pages of my Day Planner. My life as wife, mother, home school teacher, administrator, ministry coordinator and my social commitments would have been in disarray had I not written everything down. It was then that I was reading in Proverbs, the book of wisdom, that the Lord showed me this verse.

“Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed.” Proverbs 16:3 AMP

By giving the Lord my plans each morning, I let Him direct my steps and I know it saved me time, effort, and anguish. This is when I learned to say “no” to some things. I learned it was important to seek God’s counsel before I accepted invitations and new responsibilities. I learned to trust the Lord when I needed to do personnel evaluations and suggest alternate ideas of operation. I learned to hear God’s voice prompting me to encourage and support those who needed help and hadn’t asked for it.

I learned to trust God’s plan!

“With all your heart you must trust the Lord and not your own judgment. 6 Always let him lead you, and he will clear the road for you to follow.” Proverbs 3:5-6 CEV

Did/do I always get it right? No, but what I learned from the times I failed was to listen better next time. God doesn’t make mistakes so if there was a failure it was mine and I needed to be more attentive to what He was saying. I like that the Lord can take our failures and rework them for good.

“I say this because I know the plans that I have for you.” This message is from the Lord. “I have good plans for you. I don’t plan to hurt you. I plan to give you hope and a good future. 12 Then you will call my name. You will come to me and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will search for me, and when you search for me with all your heart, you will find me.” Jeremiah 29:11-13 ERV

I’m sure Noah wondered about God’s instruction to build an ark when there had never been rain. Then there was Joseph who had a promise that he would be a ruler and he was in prison. Dear sweet Mary certainly had to learn to trust God’s plan being a young, unmarried, pregnant woman. God’s plans always give us hope and a good future.

Now you may be saying “that’s great Kristi for those folks in the Bible but I’m not sure God has a plan for me”. Glad you said that.

“You were saved by faith in God, who treats us much better than we deserve.This is God’s gift to you, and not anything you have done on your own. 9 It isn’t something you have earned, so there is nothing you can brag about. 10 God planned for us to do good things and to live as he has always wanted us to live. That’s why he sent Christ to make us what we are.” Ephesians 2:8-11 CEV

God’s first plan for us was our salvation and after that He has a plan for us to do good things. Yes, there is a plan and if we stray or lose our way the Lord will help us recalculate and come back to the path.

I’m so very glad that God designed a plan just for me. What a wonderful gift!

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The Gift of Words

Remember a week or so back I asked you to join me in a fast, a fast of criticism? So how are you doing? I have to admit that there have been a few times that I’ve had to stop and repent and get back on track. Our words are so important.

You might not think that a teaching on words has much to do with the Christmas season but it really does. God started everything with His words. He said, “Light be” and it was. He spoke the plan of Christ’s birth was spoken out in words hundreds of years before the event took place. God had the prophets repeated that message again and again until it came to pass.

“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14 KJV

Then the angel came to Mary and told her that she had been chosen to give birth to the Messiah. Listen to her response.

“26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth…
30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.
37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.
38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.” Luke 1:26-38 KJV

According to your word. Mary knew that it was only necessary for God to speak a word for things to happen.

Words are filled with power – power to create or power to destroy. The writer of Proverbs penned it this way

“ A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled. 21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” Proverbs 18:20-21 KJV

This is why it’s so important that we “fast” those words that are critical and condemning. We don’t want to end up eating our unkind words, we need to feast on words that life giving.

Our casual approach to the spoken or written word can undermine our faith. My favorite Bible verse, Numbers 23:19 focuses on the importance and power of God’s word.

“God is not a man; he will not lie. God is not a human being; his decisions will not change. If he says he will do something, then he will do it. If he makes a promise, then he will do what he promised.” Numbers 23:19 ERV

When God speaks His word – it comes to pass. He has faith in what He has said and that’s why Mary could have such life-changing faith in the message that Gabriel brought her from God. We can have that same conviction and faith in God’s words.

At Christmas, and throughout the year, make your words a gift. A gift that brings life and encouragement. A gift of forgiveness and peace. A gift of kindness and love!

“Don’t let me do wrong on purpose, Lord, or let sin have control over my life. Then I will be innocent, and not guilty of some terrible fault.14 Let my words and my thoughts be pleasing to you, Lord, because you are my mighty rock and my protector.” Psalms 19:13-14 CEV

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The Gift of a Gift

I have a grouping of books that I put out on my coffee table every year at Christmas. Many books have a Christmas message but these are my favorites. The difficult task this morning will be to keep my devotional focused on just one story but I’ll try. Some of these I have purchased for my own family and others were given to us a gifts from loving friends.

If you’re like me, I struggled for years in trying to find a way to share with everyone I met during the Christmas season the true meaning of Christmas. It’s then that I was given a book, The Legend of the Candy Cane, by Lori Walburg. It’s the story of a stranger who comes to a small town, unknown to all its residents, he is befriended by a young girl and sets about his life’s work. He remodels an old building and then begins to unpack dozens of barrels and crates. To his little friend’s amazement they are all filled with candy and the glass jars and bins he would put the candy in.

There were lollipops, gum drops, taffy and chewing gum. Chocolates and caramels, jaw breakers and licorice sticks. And then there was a candy the little girl had not seen before, it was a red and white striped candy crook. The candy shop owner told her it was a “candy cane” and it had special meaning. If you turn it upset down it looks like the letter J and J is for Jesus who was born on Christmas morning. If it is turned upright it looks like a shepherds crook and it was the shepherds that first heard the news of Jesus birth.

The shop keeper went on to tell the little girl that the red stripes on the candy were for the times that Jesus was beaten before He was crucified and the white candy represents how clean our lives become when Jesus takes away our sins.

So I took the “legend of the candy cane” and have printed little cards that contain the abbreviated story. With a purse full of candy canes I head out on my daily routine passing them out to folks along my way. I share them with grocery store clerks, folks at the Post Office, in the stores, I attach them to goodie trays I give to the mailman and the garbage collectors. And there’s a basket filled with candy canes at my front door for any and all who enter.

What was a kind gift from a friend has now become a seasonal tradition of sharing the true message of Christmas in the sweetest way. This is the little card I attached to each candy cane. If you’d like to use my idea I think it would be great! Share the “sweet” message of Christmas with all you meet.

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11 KJV

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The Gift of Life

As I was praying about what to share this morning I remembered something I wrote about a year ago and it was so very appropriate that I had to share it again. Isn’t that the way life is? We never just hear, watch, study and learn from a first time experience. True knowledge comes through repeated application. That’s the way it is with God’s word too. The more we read it and hear it the greater the impact it makes on our lives. So thank you for reading this and letting it have entrance into your thinking and into your heart.

Are you one of those persons who are wrapping challenged? You know the one, the one who asks for everything you buy to be wrapped at the store. You can’t cut the paper straight so the folded ends aren’t square. Sometimes you have to cut the paper twice because the first time it wasn’t big enough to cover the back of the package.

Or maybe you are bow deficient. I love that French ribbon with the wire edges that “should” stand up all pretty and nice. I’ve watched multiple videos on bow tying and mine never look like the example.

I have to confess that last year most of my gifts were given in gift bags. All I had to do was find the right size for the right present. Worked like a charm!

Although it’s really nice to have pretty packages under the tree the more important thing is the heart behind the present than the gift under the wrapping.

Years ago a very special gift was designed. It had been years in the planning. So much thought was given to every detail, it was an intricate, delicate gift. It required special packaging to keep it safe.

But with all the planning and the design of the gift the wrapping was lacking. It was humble, basic and nothing fancy. If the wrapping was any indication of the value of the gift inside, the on-looker would have felt that there was nothing special about this small present. However, the gift giver knew the present cost him everything.

“While Joseph and Mary were in Bethlehem, the time came for her to have the baby. 7 She gave birth to her first son. She wrapped him up well and laid him in a box where cattle are fed. She put him there because the guest room was full. 8 That night, some shepherds were out in the fields near Bethlehem watching their sheep. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord was shining around them. The shepherds were very afraid. 10 The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid. I have some very good news for you—news that will make everyone happy. 11 Today your Savior was born in David’s town. He is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This is how you will know him: You will find a baby wrapped in pieces of cloth and lying in a feeding box.” Luke 2:6-12 ERV

So now the question comes. Which present will you choose, the one beautifully wrapped or the one wrapped in hay covered cloth? One may change your life for a moment or a year but the other will change your life for eternity.

Thank you Lord for the gift of eternal life!

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The Gift of a Prepared Room

Last year Dave and I listed our home on the Airbnb website. We love having our friends come to our home to spend a few days. It’s fun to entertain and perhaps pamper them a bit. It’s what we do. So we began toying with the idea of offering our home to folks who were coming to visit in our area. We had a couple guests each month during the winter and it was nice to meet new people and tell them about our area. The last few days I’ve been getting ready for guests who will be coming the first of next week and this morning I was thinking about preparations that still need to be made.

And then my thoughts went to other preparations. Can you imagine the plans that Mary was making in her last month of pregnancy? Moms you know what I’m talking about, especially when it was your first child. Everything had to be perfect – was the cradle ready, was there enough swaddling (diapers), was the house clean enough – all the details. She was preparing for her son, her first child but she was also preparing to receive the Messiah and it was her responsibility to raise him. Now that was a big responsibility.

But in thinking about the preparation, all the little details, I asked myself, how have I prepared for this child called Jesus? Have I kept things back, hidden away or have I been completely open in giving Him all of my heart for His home? Have I allowed Him free rein to transform me?

He loves me more than I love myself. He has never nor will ever ask me to make any changes that aren’t for my best. He’s not out to destroy my life but to make it better than I ever dreamed possible.

“A thief comes only to rob, kill, and destroy. I came so that everyone would have life, and have it in its fullest.” John 10:10 CEV

Now let’s go back for a moment to our new mother. Having a baby in your home meant you went without sleep, your life was no longer your own. Your primary focus became the baby’s well-being; you had a new purpose in life. And it was worth every second – no regrets!

So I ask now, are you prepared? Have you made room for the King of Kings and Lord of Lords?

“The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him.” Exodus 15:2 KJV

Make preparation today not for just a guest who will come and go but for the One who comes and promises to never leave us alone!

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