Found notes…4….prepaing for Christmas…3

 

Found notes….4…preparing for Christmas…3…

Joseph’s preparation….

I had a great father and grandfather, step grandfather…they each were trustworthy…but, I have known many whose fathers who were not, abusers, etc…

There are two Josephs in the Bible that were singled out as trusting worthy…we know about Joseph in the Old Testament as saying to his brothers, allying their fears, 

 “But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.”

Gen.50.19-21

This was said as well…

 “The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master. His master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to succeed in his hands. So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had. 

The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph's charge, because the Lord was with him. And whatever he did, the Lord made it succeed.”

Gen.39.2-4,Gen.39.23

But, today is about Joseph in the New Testament…I would dare say that the same things that were said in the Old Testament about that Joseph could be said about Joseph, Jesus’ earthly father…

 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 

But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,and they shall call his name Immanuel”(which means, God with us). 

When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

Matt.1.19-25

“The best-known example of betrothal is that of Jesus’ mother, Mary, and her fiancé, Joseph. When Joseph learned that Mary was pregnant, and before he understood the miraculous nature of the conception, he thought that Mary had violated her betrothal, which was as binding as a marriage contract. At first, Joseph believed that his only recourse was to divorce her, or “put her away.” Matthew records the account: “This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly” (Matthew 1:18–19). Matthew says that Mary was “pledged to be married,” but he also calls Joseph “her husband.” The fact that a “divorce” was required to break the betrothal shows that their premarital contract was legally binding. If, even during the betrothal period, Mary had been sexually intimate with someone other than Joseph, she would have been guilty of adultery.” Got questions.org

Love this quote…( the article is good)…

“God honored Joseph’s integrity by entrusting him with a great responsibility. It is not easy to entrust your children to someone else. Imagine God looking down to choose a man to raise His own son? 

Joseph had God’s trust. Mercy always triumphs. Joseph could have acted severely toward Mary’s apparent indiscretion, but he chose to offer love and mercy, even when he thought he had been wrong. 

Walking in obedience to God may result in humiliation and disgrace before men. When we obey God, even in the face of adversity and public shame, He leads and guides us.”

https://www.beliefnet.com/faiths/christianity/6-things-you-didnt-know-about-joseph-in-the-bible.aspx

Thank YOU…

Come, thou king-expected Jesus…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lwtbnU-1Tw

Found notes…4…preparing for Christmas…2…

 Found notes….4…preparing for Christmas…2…

Mary’s preparation….

Having been a wedding coordinator, I got to be well acquainted with betrothed couples as they planned their weddings…what fun…what stress…ups and downs…drama….til finally the long awaited day….so much prep for 2 to 3 hours …

Here’s Mary, a young woman, betrothed to Joseph …just beginning a new chapter of her life, planning her wedding when something miraculous happens…

Was she ready for change? How did she respond?

What do we do with big changes? Do we accept them with complaint or graciously? Knowing they are part of God’s plan….

“Engagements” in Bible times, like those in modern-day Western countries, were heterosexual relationships preliminary to marriage. Then, as now, the engagement period gave the bride time to prepare for her new role, to gather personal belongings, to adjust relationships with parents, siblings, and friends, and in some cases to become better acquainted with her fiancee.”

Gotquestions.org

 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel .

Isa.7.14

How did Mary prepare?

What do you think her thoughts were?

What do the following passages show us about God?

What do they show us about God?

 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” 

And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” 

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. and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” 

And Mary said,“My soul magnifies the Lord,     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me,and holy is his name. 

And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

Luke.1.26-49, jLuke.2.7 

Thank YOU….

Mary did you know….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Uki0dkthzI

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=k7tfBYESaoo

Found notes…3…priorities and incidentals….

 Found notes ….3…priorities and incidentals….

Take a container filled with sand and rocks, pour it out , then refill with the same rocks and sand…Will you start with the sand or rocks first?

If you refill with the sand first, there is no room for the rocks…but if you fill it with the rocks first, the sand fills in around the rocks and your container is refilled…

The rocks are the priorities and the sand is the incidentals…

sometimes we make the sand the priorities and the rocks the incidentals…but then we can’t fill our container backup…

We take on the less important things and overlook the really important things…or we major on the minor issues rather than the major issues.

We want to change others or ourselves lives, attitudes, etc…but the outward appearance/action is really minor, when the major issue is the heart change.   We sometimes get lost in the minuscule when there is really a bigger picture…

God looks at the heart, our heart, others’ hearts…where we stand with him rather than what we wear, who we are, what our standing is…, etc…oh, that we would see as God sees…the priorities….not that he doesn’t care for the details as we see around us…He does…

 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

1Sam.16.7

 We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

2Cor.5.12-15

 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Matt.6.33

Thank YOU….

Seek ye first…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsBpM9IcBts

Found notes …4..preparing for Christmas…1

 Found notes….4…preparing for Christmas….1…

I found these notes as well, more appropriate for this season…

In a body of believers we were a part  of years ago, we had a yearly get together of women in the fall, preparing for Christmas…great speakers came, we had wonderful food, breakout sessions of various crafts and subjects… it took a  considerable amount of work, but it was a greatly anticipated event…and I thank each of those servants profusely for their vision, work and dedication to this event which was so well received in the community…Christ was shared, fellowship happened…

The follow notes were preparation for Christmas by various people…the notes of prophecy are no where exhaustive…there are so many of the coming of Christ…either as a baby, a servant…a King…

 I will put enmity between you and the woman,and between your offspring and her offspring;he shall bruise your head,and you shall bruise his heel.”

Gen.3.15

 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Isa.7.14

 For to us a child is born,to us a son is given;and the government shall be upon his shoulder,and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end,on the throne of David and over his kingdom,to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore.The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Isa.9.6,Isa.9.7

 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!Behold, your king is coming to you;righteous and having salvation is he,humble and mounted on a donkey,on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Zech.9.9

  But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel,whose coming forth is from of old,from ancient days.

Mic.5.2

Thought questions…

How did the world prepare for Jesus?

What were they waiting for?

Who/what are we waiting for?

Are we even waiting?

Thank YOU….

Oh come, oh come Emmanuel…three versions…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01BcaggibDw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkvYR4BcHYc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UH7asSGxAxA

 

Found notes….2 ….the shoe man story…

 Found notes…2…The shoe man story….

Several years ago I had the privilege of going to Colombia, South America to distribute operation Christmas Child boxes. We drove to several villages, giving the gospel message and then handing out the boxes to the children who had come…some of those children had walked up to 2 hours, in their “best”  shoes and  clothes( maybe borrowed) to attend…sitting on concrete floors or concrete covered with cardboard boxes…anxious to listen, not knowing that they would each received a gift, both the message of salvation and a shoe box filled with love and goodies…

When I found this story about the shoes, I thought of this trip…all of us there to give out the boxes were dressed in our travel clothes from our closets filled with clothes… we didn’t borrow clothes to makes this trip far from our homes…we arrived in an  conditioned bus, had plenty of food and water to sit next to a child on a dusty cement floor in a building built of cement blocks and 2x4’s…

But, we were all there for the same reason, to hear the story of Jesus….to give and receive gifts…

Thank YOU….

 and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For he who is least among you all is the one who is great.”

Luke.9.48

 And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”

Matt.10.42

 My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. 

For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 

Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? 

If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

Jas.2.1-5Jas.2.8-9

“The Shoe Man Poem

My alarm went off
It was Sunday again.
I was sleepy and tired
My one day to sleep in.
But the guilt I would feel
The rest of the day
Would have been too much
So I'd go and I'd pray.

I showered and shaved

I adjusted my tie.
I got there and sat
In a pew just in time.
Bowing my head in prayer
As I closed my eyes.
I saw the  shoe of the man next to me
Touching my own. I sighed.
With plenty of room on either side
I thought, "Why must our soles touch?"
It bothered me, his shoe touching mine
But it didn't bother him much.

A prayer began: "Our Father"...

I thought, "This man with the shoes
has no pride.
They're dusty, worn, and scratched
Even worse, there are holes on the side!"

"Thank You for blessings," the prayer went on.

The shoe man said
a quiet "Amen."
I tried to focus on the prayer
But my thoughts were on his shoes again.
Aren't we supposed to look our best
When walking through that door?
"Well, this certainly isn't it," I thought,
Glancing toward the floor.

Then the prayer was ended
And the songs of praise began.
The shoe man was certainly loud
Sounding proud as he sang.
His voice lifted the rafters
His hands were raised high.
The Lord could surely hear
The shoe man's voice from the sky. 

It was time for the offering
And what I threw in was steep.
I watched as the shoe man reached
Into his pockets so deep.
I saw what was pulled out
What the shoe man put in.
Then I heard a soft "clink"
as when silver hits tin.

The sermon really bored me
To tears, and that's no lie
It was the same for the shoe man
For tears fell from his eyes.
At the end of the service
As is the custom here
We must greet new visitors
And show them all good cheer.

But I felt moved somehow
And wanted to meet the shoe man
So after the closing prayer
I reached over and shook his hand.
He was old and his skin was dark
And his hair was truly a mess
But I thanked him for coming
For being our guest.

He said, "My names' Charlie
I'm glad to meet you, my friend."
There were tears in his eyes
But he had a large, wide grin
"Let me explain," he said
Wiping tears from his eyes.
"I've been coming here for months
And you're the first to say 'Hi.'"

"I know that my appearance
Is not like all the rest
"But I really do try
To always look my best.
"I always clean and polish my  shoes
Before my very long walk.
"But by the time I get here
They're dirty and dusty, like chalk."

My heart filled with pain
and I swallowed to hide my tears
As he continued to apologize
For daring to sit so near.
He said, "When I get here
I know I must look a sight.
"But I thought if I could touch you
Then maybe our souls might unite."

I was silent for a moment
Knowing whatever was said
Would pale in comparison
I spoke from my heart, not my head.

"Oh, you've touched me," I said,
"And taught me, in part;
"That the best of any man
Is what is found in his heart."

The rest, I thought,
This  shoe man will never know.
Like just how thankful I really am
That his dirty old shoe touched my soul.”

- Leanne Freiberg, or author unknown 

A cup.of water…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aq97GyO_zpI

This is giving Tuesday…

PUSH….

 PUSH….

I was going through files the other day, again sorting to keep, to throw away…

I came across some from 20 + years ago that are just as relevant today as they were then. So I may digress to a few that are worthy of sharing….

The first is from someone who obviously thought I needed at the time…no known author that I can find…I do not even know who sent it to me…the email addresses are unknown to me…so it may have landed on my church office desk for a devotional….

I found it again on Bible.org…

“The Unmoved Rock

Once upon a time, there was a man who was sleeping at night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light and the Saviour appeared. The Lord told the man He had work for him to do, and showed him a large rock in front of his cabin. The Lord explained that the man was to push against the rock with all his might. This the man did, day after day. For many years he toiled from sun up to sun down, his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock, pushing with all his might.

Each night the man returned to his cabin sore and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain. Seeing that the man was showing signs of discouragement, Satan decided to enter the picture placing thoughts into the man's mind such as: "You have been pushing against that rock for a long time, and it hasn't budged. Why kill yourself over this? You are never going to move it." Thus giving the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure.

These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man even more. "Why kill myself over this?" he thought. "I'll just put in my time, giving just the minimum of effort and that will be good enough." And that he planned to do until one day he decided to make it a matter of prayer and take his troubled thoughts to the Lord.

"Lord," he said, "I have laboured long and hard in your service, putting all my strength to do that which you have asked. Yet, after all this time, I have not even budged that rock a half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing?" To this the Lord responded compassionately, "My child, when long ago I asked you to serve me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all your strength, which you have done. Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. Your task was to push.

And now you come to me, your strength spent, thinking that you have failed. But, is that really so? Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your back sinewed and brown, your hands are callused from constant pressure, and your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition, you have grown much and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have. Yet you haven't moved the rock. But your calling was to be obedient and to push and to exercise your faith and trust in My wisdom. This you have done. I, my child, will now move the rock."

source unknown…

How like me, I try and try to be obedient, and then wonder why things didn’t go the way I “expected”. When all the time God just wanted my obedience…He was doing the “moving “… then I look back and wonder in amazement at His Work…how He moved…

 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? 

But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. 

I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. 

For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.

Rom.6.16-19

Thank YOU….

Trust and obey…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-g4B-vzNHPw

Building…

 Building….

Part of my college years, I majored in architecture until we moved to go to another college for graduate school for my husband which had no architecture classes…I loved designing special houses for special needs in the classes…later, I loved designing houses for our family…two of my children have designed houses as well, one for personal use and the other, continues to build both for personal and commercial…

Building takes time, designing, much planning, materials, oversight, talented builders…

Exodus 25 +, God lays out his plans , materials, even the chosen builders for the tabernacle to be built…it was portable, filled with many layers, many pieces and parts…all with distinct meanings and uses…as well as clothing for the priests…

He was precise in his plans as well…He knew what materials he needed…He didn’t have to go through city or county planners…didn’t have to get truss engineering, building inspections…or even landscapers…etc…

He has precise  plans for each of his creations as well…he was our designer, our creator…

 For you formed my inward parts;you knitted me together in my mother's womb. 

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.Wonderful are your works;my soul knows it very well. 

My frame was not hidden from you,when I was being made in secret,intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 

Your eyes saw my unformed substance;in your book were written, every one of them,the days that were formed for me,when as yet there was none of them.

Ps.139.13-16

 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Jer.29.11

 Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?1Cor.3.16

Thank YOU….

Build me…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z32HiCoFzlU

How firm a foundation… 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vZfzYSEGwk