Respect for Mary and Joseph

I sang a song in church a few weeks ago that was in Mary's point of view. I had to stop and remind myself that her situation was indeed unique and certainly different from the others in the stable that night. The other observers could admire, adore, worship and walk away. Mary and Joseph however were Jesus' parents - they had to stay and bear the burden of rearing the Son of God.

They knew Jesus would have a difficult road ahead. They could not afford all the dreams and hopes for their child as we do for ours. They could only love him from afar - knowing that Jesus was not really theirs to possess.

When I think of the sacrifice that Mary and Joseph made, it humbles me. Although many others in the bible made the ultimate sacrifice for Christ, his parents had a special heartbreak to endure. They did not choose - they were chosen. They did the job that God asked of them. Then slipped away into obscurity, losing their child to the world.

As we celebrate the birth of our Lord, let us also take heed of the example left to us by his parents. There are lessons in obedience and humility and sacrifice to be learned from these two figures in the manger.

Merry Christmas.

Science vs Revelation

 "Science is showing that you and I are crafted with astonishing precision so that we can, on occasion, peer into a spiritual world and know God. And rather than dispel the spiritual, science is cracking it open for all to see." Barbara Hagerty

I sometimes get discouraged at the efforts the world is making to erase God from the hearts and minds of people. We hear the negative theology shouted that man is his own creation, or that we are here by sheer accidents of nature.

The whisper of the enemy tells me that soon everyone will be convinced that God never existed at all. This is the lie of all lies.

The smarter man gets, the more likely he is to prove God does exists and that He alone is responsible for the galaxies and beyond. Man can't help it - he has a inborn need to discover. And the only real thing there is to discover is God. Behind and underneath everything is God - waiting to be exposed. It's only a matter of time before all the scientific maneuvering will make the crack that God will shine through.

We need never fear that "they" will win. We already know who holds the victory.

Whom do you fight and with what???

"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age..."
Ephesians 6:11 & 12

I must admit that I have a hard time remembering this admonition. When people are in my face or I have been thwarted on every side when Im just trying to do good, I want to jump in and fight with someone.

But our fight is not with people, it's with the influences, powers and darkness of this crazy world we live in. Why do I continually take on battles that are not fought in the natural? And why do I not consistently put on the armor of God? Pride? Laziness?

We are distracted from out post by all the little battles in our lives when we should be standing guard where God has positioned us. What more can we ask? He gives us a commission, armor, ammunition and a cause for which to fight.

Let us answer the call to fight the right battles in the right way. Anything else is a waste of time and effort.

Can You Hear Him?

For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.  Romans 8:16




How does God speak to us? Can He speak to someone who hasn't received Him?
Do you remember as a child attaching a long string to 2 tin cans and using it as a telephone to your buddy?

Our connection to God is a Spirit to spirit one. The string that connects us to God is his Spirit living in us. He cannot speak to our flesh or our reason - they dont have God in them. But our spirit is indwelled with God's spirit when we commit to communion with Him - receiving Him into our life.

Our flesh and reason is under our command - we have the power through Christ to make them obey and come into line. But our spirit is the temple where God speaks. If we aren't in tune with our spirit, we won't be listening for his voice. We must find Him where He is and then listen.

Can you hear Him? Tighten up that string.

Are You Being Taught or Made?

"We are inclined to think that everything that happens is to be turned into useful teaching. In actual fact, it is to be turned into something even better than teaching, namely, character. The mountaintop is not meant to teach us anything, it is meant to make us something. There is a terrible trap in always asking, “What’s the use of this experience?” We can never measure spiritual matters in that way. The moments on the mountaintop are rare moments, and they are meant for something in God’s purpose."
Oswald Chambers/My Utmost For His Highest

What a profound statement this is. Many of us tend to think in terms of God teaching us rather than Him making us. Anyone can teach...only God can make.

My husband and I had a discussion last night about Christians who never do anything. By that I mean they are content to be saved and in their own little world without impacting those around them in any significant way. I find it hard to relate to people like that. There is so much to be done and so many opportunities to reach out and make a difference. If we are truly letting God make us into his image, how can we not do something?

Maybe my impact isn't as big as I would like it to be, but I cannot just sit on what I know. I don't want to just be taught, I want to be made.

Run to the Most High God

“Those who go to God Most High for safety will be protected by the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, ‘You are my place of safety and protection.’ You are my God and I trust you.”


Psalm 91:1-2


How many times have we been rescued by God? We cry HELP when we are in trouble or don’t know where to turn. He is faithful to cover us, and protect us from ourselves. I personally can’t imagine how to live without his sheltering arm.


But I’m not sure God’s children fully comprehend the magnitude of that protection. The arm of our Creator is broader and longer than our minds can fathom. The fact that He would outstretch it just for me is an expression of his loving character. All I need to do is to go to Him, trusting He will do as He says.


It’s not that God needs to acknowledge us, He does that in ways we don’t even realize. But when do we acknowledge Him? Only when we need help? Only when danger lurks? He is ready to gather us in every minute of every day. He watches and faithfully guides all who look to Him.


As a child, I knew my parents would be there if ever I needed them. When I was in danger, I would run to them. Our Heavenly Father waits like a caring, protective parent. But his power to protect is mighty. Our praise and thanksgiving should rise up accordingly, for his shelter is undeserved.

Hope of Heaven

"In my Father's House are many mansions." John 14:2

I read in a devotional today that "If you have a well grounded hope of Heaven you are never really unhappy."

I had to think about that for a minute. I have always believed in my home in Heaven - since I accepted Christ as Savior. But there have been many days when I have been truly unhappy. I know of many other Christians that live with fleeting happiness, struggling to hang on to joy. So how do we fit in to that statement?

The key is the "well grounded" part. Hope of Heaven is to be rooted deep in us. We must think of ourselves as eternal beings. I know in my spirit that this earth is not my home and that God has prepared a place for me. I often joke about hoping there will be pristine golf courses to play on!

I only have to bring that hope to mind and my mood lifts. But I also know that if I had not that hope, I would be experiencing a certain kind of unhappiness that I never want to know. I need to thank God every day for my future home. That's what will keep my hope well grounded.