SPECIAL GRACE GIVEN

  "When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route." Mathew 2:10-12 Imagine what Mary and Joseph must have thought when these three Magi came into the stable bringing gifts to their baby. We can assume they explained they had seen the star in the East and had followed it to the Christ Child. With them they had three gifts: Gold, frankincense and myrrh. There is a spiritual meaning concerning these three gifts. Gold recognizes Christ kingship, frankincense is a symbol of deity and myrrh a symbol of death. Mary and Joseph would have pondered these things in their hearts. I often wonder what is it we could bring to Christ to honor Him. The thought comes to mind that I can give Him ...

I am amazed at the courage Mary had when the angel told her she had been favored by God to bring forth the Christ Child. Are you wondering why I said courage?  Because Mary  was a teenager, not yet married; she is told she will supernaturally become pregnant. People would talk, she could be ostracizied , and Joseph could turn away from her. She could lose everything. Yet, this young girl's faith was so strong she said yes. Luke 1:38 says, And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her." Would I have had such courage? Would my faith have been that strong? I can only hope! And Yours? Billy Graham said, "One of the greatest demonstrations of faith in all the Bible was Mary's answer to the angel, accepting God's will for her life ––no matter the cost." What will our answer be to God?

 This week will culminate in the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. As I was thinking about writing this post today, my thoughts went to a young girl, traveling with her new husband from Nazareth, a city in the northern region of Galilee to Bethlehem for the census. A young girl who was nine months pregnant. How difficult it must have been for Mary, during this particular week. She was nine months pregnant, had to ride a donkey, which would not have been comfortable, but especially being pregnant. It says it would have taken about four days for them to walk the distance between Nazareth and Bethlehem. The distance was between 70 and 90 miles. The terrain was unpaved and had steep slopes, with changes in elevation. Imagine what it must have been like for Mary. Then after a long journey, they are told there is no room for them at the inn. She is close to giving birth. They need shelter. What were they going to do? No one knew that the Savior of the world was about to be born!...

  Ever wonder if God speaks to you? Well, He does. Now you may not hear Him, but He has spoken to you many, many times. You see with all that noise around us it is hard to hear Him, and especially if you don't know Him. And how do you get to know Him? You read His words. You know that Bible that is probably laying around in your house somewhere? Well that was written to you, for you, by God. He is waiting to talk to you, waiting to communicate the answers you need to make those decisions you are trying to make. Pick up the Bible, and just talk to God. Tell Him, what is going on and what you need. Look for scriptures that talk about God answering us. He is waiting for you. He loves you more than you can imagine.  Blessings!

  Jesus said,   "If anyone says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen." 1 John 4:20 ESV Our Lord makes it very clear, if we love God but hate our brother, which means anyone, then we lie about loving God. Makes you think doesn't it? We probably all have been guilty of hating someone at sometime in our lives . . .and if this is so, then we could not possibly have loved God, because God is love.  To hate someone because of the color of his skin, believes different, from a different country, and different  ethinicity . . .are we not aware God created all human beings? Do we not know their blood is the same color as ours?  One day, I will stand before God, and I do not want to hear Him ask me, why did I hate. I love God and I try to check myself often to make sure hate does not get into my heart. As a child of God, I need to practice what the Lord God tells ...