A Child Is Born

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. — Isaiah 9:6 

On Christmas Eve Sunday we went to our church services - twice!

It was a great way to celebrate Christmas Eve.

With worship and song and candlelight.

And we had Kirk's family over for potato soup — which they cooked and brought over!

Delicious!

Today we had my brothers over for Christmas Day for ham.

And Steve made some delicious potatoes, which we finished off completely.

Plus he brought twice-baked potatoes for us to have later this week.

Wonderful days with family.

We are blessed.

A Prophet of the Most High

And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven. — Luke 1:26-28

John the Baptist went ahead of Jesus to prepare the way for Him to come.

He was a prophet of the Most High.

He came baptizing people, calling on them to repent of their sins.

Sharing with them the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins.

Thanks to God's tender mercy and grace.

 

The Father of Righteous Child Has Great Joy

The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him. — Proverbs 23:24

The father of a righteous child has reason to be joyful.

Kirk's dad was so proud of him and his love of the Lord.

And he was also proud of our daughter and her growing faith.

When God's wisdom enters a child at any age, there is reason to rejoice.

To Us a Child Is Born

To us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. — Isaiah 9:6 

Jesus was born for us.

The government will be upon Him.

And He will be called Wonderful!

Jesus will be our Counselor.

He is the Mighty God.

His kingdom is everlasting.

Jesus is the Prince of Peace.

The Everlasting Father.

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!

Anna Gave Thanks to God

Coming up to them at that very moment, she  [Anna] gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. — Luke 2:38

When Mary and Joseph took baby Jesus to the temple, Anna was there waiting.

She came up to the couple with their newborn and gave thanks to God.

Then she told everyone who would listen about the Messiah.

She knew that Jesus would bring redemption to Jerusalem.

And to us, too.

The salvation of the world was upon Him.

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!

Simeon Sees the Messiah

When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation. — Luke 2:27-30a

Simeon praised God when he saw the baby Jesus in the temple.

He had been waiting for this day.

And He knew that this was no ordinary baby, but the Son of God.

Simeon recognized that Jesus was the Messiah as he took him in his arms.

And that God had sent Him to earth just as he had promised long ago.

Simeon was now ready to be with God in death.

He had now seen God's salvation and was thankful.

He was now at peace.

Those of us who k now Jesus are also at peace, no matter what comes our way.

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.

The Father of a Righteous Child Has Great Joy

The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.
25 May your father and mother rejoice; may she who gave you birth be joyful! — Proverbs 23:24-25 

My father-in-law Gary had great joy seeing his sons grow up.

And seeing his middle son become a righteous man,

Serving God with all his heart.

His mom also rejoiced and was joyful.

Rita gave Kirk birth and rejoiced at the person he had become. 

We rejoice in having Kirk as my husband and Abby's father.

Happy Father's Day!

The Father of a Righteous Child Has Great Joy

The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him. – Proverbs 23:24

We are very blessed by our husband and father.

Here he is playing basketball in high school.

He has done a great job of raising up our child and his students.

The father of a righteous child has great joy.

A man who father's a wise child rejoices in that child.

We rejoice!

Humble LIke This Child

 So whoever will humble himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom. — Matthew 18:4

Jesus told His disciples that whoever would be great among you, He must be your servant.

And whoever would be least among you. He shall be Lord of all.

Whoever will humble himself like a child, he will be the greatest in the kingdom  of God.

Our flowers are blooming with the advent of rain.

Even a  small bit has been a big help.

Along with Kirk's hard work and fertilizer.

God asks us to grow our relationship with Him so we can grow and blossom, too.

Help me start today, Lord.

 

 

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.

He Was Named Jesus

On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived. — Luke 2:21

The baby was named Jesus, and He is our Savior.

The angel gave Him this name long before He was born.

He lived and died and came alive again to save me from sin.

And He lives in heaven, sitting at the right hand of God the Father.

On this New Year's Eve, we thank Him for coming to earth as a baby and dying for us. 

Welcome, 2021!

Spread the Word

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 2:17-18

The shepherds were so excited to get to see Jesus.

They hurried off to tell their friends.

Am I just as excited to share Jesus with my friends?

He has given me everything.

Even dying on a cross to save me from death.

And I will live with him in heaven one day.

What a Savior!

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.

A Prophet of the Most High

 And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him. — Luke 1:76

Today is the winter solstice.

Yesterday I went for a two-mile walk with friends.

Then I went for a swim.

At noon our church orchestra held a Christmas caroling afternoon down by the harbor.

And our crape myrtle is ready for Christmas, too!

Prepare the way of the Lord.

 

The Peaceful Kingdom

The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. — Isaiah 11:6

In this new year of 2020, we are thanking God for His promises.

We look forward to the time when God's peaceable kingdom will come to fruition.

The wolf will dwell with the lamb.

The leopard will lie down with the kid.

The calf, the lion and the fatling together.

And a little child will lead them.

While people often are unable to keep their promises, God always keeps His promises.

He never failed me yet.

Thank you, Lord, for the new year!

To Us a Son Is Born

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. — Isaiah 9:6

Yesterday we celebrated the birth of Jesus.

Wonderful,

Counselor,

Mighty God,

Everlasting father,

Prince of Peace.

We had potato soup after the Christmas Eve service, made by Liz. Delicious.

We used my grandmother's tablecloth and the tree that Abby and I made together at our church craft night years ago.