You Have Found Favor With God

The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” — Luke 1:30-33 

The angel told Mary not to be afraid.

She had found favor with God.

And as a result, she would be the mother of the Son of God, Jesus.

He was part of the lineage of King David.

And He will reign forever.

His kingdom will have no end.

And we can live with Him forever.

Happy New Year!

She Will Give Birth to a Son

But 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. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” — Matthew. 1:20-21 

An angel appeared to Joseph in a dream.

Telling him to take Mary as his wife.

And promising that she would give birth to son, born of the Holy Spirit.

The baby's name would be Jesus.

Because He will save His poeple from their sins.

And we are grateful.

We owe Him our lives.

My Soul Glorifies the Lord

And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. — Luke 1:46-47, 49

When Mary visited Elizabeth, she greeted her.

At that, the baby leaped in Elizabeth's womb.

And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Then Mary sang this song of praise to God.

Thanking Him for His goodness.

And glorifying the Lord.

Joseph and Mary Returned to Galilee

When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him. — Luke 2:39-40 

Merry Christmas!

When Joseph and Mary took Jesus to the temple to dedicate him, both Simeon and Anna blessed them.

They did everything required by God's Law.

And when they had offered thanks to God, they went home, back to Nazareth in Galilee.

Little Jesus grew and became strong.

He was filled with wisdom.

The grace of God was on Him.

And Jesus our Savior extends that grace to us.

Merry Christmas!

Simeon Blessed Them

The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed."  — Luke 2:33-35 

Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the temple to dedicate him.

Simeon was waiting there to see the promised Messiah.

When he saw Jesus, he blessed his family.

And he prophesied about Jesus that He will cause the falling and rising of many.

And Christ will be a sign that the world will speak against.

He will reveal the hearts of people everywhere.

We welcome Jesus into the world!

Mary Pondered These Things in Her Heart

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. — Luke 2:19 

Mary treasured God's Word to her.

She pondered everything He had told her in her heart.

God wants us to treasure up His Word and keep it in our hearts.

He wants us to memorize and learn His Word and hold it fast in our thoughts and minds.

And learn from it and act on it.

To put it into action in our lives.

The Baby Lying in a Manger

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.  — Luke 2:16-18

Our Savior, Jesus, was born in a lowly manger — a feeding trough for cattle.

But the shepherds were so excited to see Him that they ran off to tell their friends.

Everyone who heard about it was amazed.

Dear Lord, help me to keep that amazement at the birth of your Son.

Instill in me the wonder of His birth.

And the awe of His sacrifice.

Thank you.

My Soul Glorifies the Lord

And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant." — Luke 1:46-48

This afternoon we held our middle school girls Bible study Christmas party.

We did a gift exchange, made Christmas cards and spiced cider mix, roasted s'mores, lit the advent wreath, and sang Christmas carols.

I made these Santa cookies.

Usually I would make them and have the girls decorate cookies.

This year because of covid, we didn't frost cookies or carol through the neighborhood.

But we still had a fun time worshipping God together.

Magnifying His name with our songs and prayers.

You Have Found Favor With God

But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God." — Luke 1:30

God sent His Son Jesus to earth.

Mary obeyed God and agreed to follow His plan for her life.

Last night was our company party at Punch Bowl Social.

We bowled, ate great food, chatted with my coworkers, and had a fun time.

Kirk got to meet the people I work with.

During this Advent season, we are thankful for the people God used when Jesus was born.

We are thankful for the people He uses today to do His will.

The Virgin's Name Was Mary

God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. — Luke 1:26

God sent Gabriel to Nazareth.

To the virgin Mary.

She was pledged to be married to Joseph.

Joseph was a descendant of David.

And so was His Son, Jesus.

Here's a photo of our choir concert from yesterday.

Beautiful.

The Child Grew

When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.  And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him. — Luke 2:39-40

Joseph and Mary did everything required by the law of God.

Then they returned home.

Jesus grew and became strong.

That's what we hope for our children, too.

That they will grow in the Lord and be filled with wisdom.

May the grace of God be on them in this new year.

Simeon Blessed Them

Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. — Luke 2:34-35

After Simeon saw the baby Jesus, he blessed His parents.

And he praised God for sending Jesus.

He went on to tell about how God would use Jesus to save the world.

We are grateful that Jesus has filled our hearts with His love.

And that He has sent His Holy Spirit to guide our lives.

And that He has blessed us with wonderful family members who pray for us.

Mary Treasured All These Things

Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. — Luke 2:19

As we wrap up the Christmas season, we remember Jesus' mother, Mary.

She treasured up all that the shepherds and angels had shown her.

Then she pondered all these things in her heart.

When I read God's Word, I often forget to ponder it.

But God has some interesting and provocative wisdom for me in His Word.

Open my eyes to Your Word, Lord.

Open my ears to Your will.

The Baby Was Lying in the Manger

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. — Luke 2:6

The shepherds hurried off after hearing the host of angels praising God.

They found Mary and Joseph.

And they saw the Baby Jesus lying in a manger.

Because there was no room for the family in the inn.

Today we praise God, too.

And we thank Him for sending Jesus His Son to earth to save us.

 

Bethlehem, the Town of David

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. — Luke 2:4-5

Joseph trusted God enough to take Mary as his wife, even though she was expecting a child.

He obeyed when God told him to take the child and flee to Egypt.

When God spoke to him, he listened and obeyed.

When the angel Gabriel appeared to him, he listened and obeyed.

Help me, Lord, to listen and obey just as Joseph did.

Thank You for sending the best gift of all - your son, our Savior Jesus.

His Humble Servant

 He has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.  — Luke 1:48

God was aware of the humble state of Mary.

He was aware of my humble state, too.

Even so, He sent Jesus to born of Mary.

And to live and die for me.

This Amaryllis is a reminder of the new life Jesus give us.

Just as the bulb is buried in the soil but bursts with new life each year.

We are blessed.

My Soul Glorifies the Lord

And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior." — Luke 1:46-47

During this time of year it's so easy to get wrapped up in all the lights and glitter and blow-up Santas.

But the real message was God sending His only Son to earth. 

Born as a baby in Bethlehem.

Come to save us from our sins.

To die and rise again for me personally.

The best gift of all!

God Appeared to Joseph

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. — Matthew 1:20

And angel appeared to Joseph.

What a strange dream.

The first thing the angel says is that Joseph should not be afraid.

Then Joseph is told to take Mary as his wife, even though she is already expecting.

What a leap of faith!

Yet he obeys God without question.

Dear Lord, help me to obey without question, too.

Mary the Mother of Jesus

And Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah. — Matthew 1:16

This week marks the first week in Advent.

We anticipate the coming Jesus during this time.

Advent means coming.

Jesus was born to Mary and joseph, two ordinary young people.

He is called the Messiah, the Savior of His people.

His lineage shows that people of all nations and people groups are represented in his ancestry.

And he came to save all people. 

Including me! Amazing.