The Baby in a Manger

Hello my brothers and sisters! I just finished going through the gospel of John and boy was that fun. I am going to go back and read it again after I finish Luke. Speaking of Luke, that is my new book of choice. I decided to read Luke because it is SO detailed. I really want to fill in the gaps or missing parts that were a bit vague in John.

So, I know it is not {[Christmas]} but after reading Luke 1 and 2 I found myself marveling at the differences in the birth of John the Baptist and Jesus the Messiah. It's pretty remarkable to see how God wanted John's arrival to be revealed at the center of the Jewish nation, but he picked for Jesus to be born in a manger. Another interesting point revealed to me - John was the son of Zechariah, a priest and his mother was also highly looked up to. Jesus's parents, Mary and Joseph, were just average Jewish people.

Truly, Truly, I say to you,... (Yes, I am using Jesus's awesome words!) it's in the birth of Christ that God's majesty is truly shown to all. I mean, if you really think about it, God's one and only son was born in a stable where animals were put. Could you imagine what was inside and not just that... but how it probably smelled? Mary and Joseph were told by a innkeeper that there was not enough room for them. Yet they both pressed on! They were faithful that God would take care of them no matter where they had to go.  [Are we like Mary and Joseph? Or are we like the Innkeeper? Do we not have room for Jesus?] These things that happened TRULY show the grace of God and His great love for US people regardless of our social ranking. Jesus, the savior of the world, came here humbly and lived a life of complete humility as a faithful servant of God and man.

A few other things that really stuck out to me in Luke Chapter 2 was the praise from Heaven, the shepherds and Mary. With how humble the place that the Lord was born, it still brought forth the presence of Angels.  AMAZING....

After Mary gave birth to Jesus this is what happened:

^"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” Luke 2: 8-15

Could you imagine what those shepherds felt like when this happened? I mean really, this is incredible. So much is happening here after the birth of Christ. All of heaven is beyond JOYFUL for Jesus has came into the world to complete God's work. Jesus's arrival is so big that it arouses pure joy inside the hearts of the shepherds to go out and tell everyone the great news. Even when the shepherds return to the manger they begin to worship God [Luke 2: 20 "The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told."]

Mary sat in the manger, deeply thinking about these things [Luke 2:19 "But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart."] All of this that is going on has Mary very attentive. Shepherds are worshiping God because of her Son and all of Heaven is rejoicing. I don't know about you but Mary is one pretty awesome woman to handle this!

My prayer for you all is to remember the significance of the Birth of Christ, right now, not just on Christmas. It's a time to be joyful e v e r y d a y... because Jesus was amazingly born into our world and conquered death for ALL of us!! Amen, amen, amen! Have a blessed day everyone, praying for you all. Xo - Laura

I was blind, but now I see!

Good morning everyone! It has been a little while since I have written on this blog. Most recently I have been writing for a website called 5 Minutes for Faith. It has been such a blessing to be able to put my writings about the Lord and what he is doing in my life on a platform that more people will get to read. My next post will be on April 8th, so please check it out or go to 5 Minutes For Faith.com and check out the website right now! It's awesome.

In my personal studies, I have been really diving into John. Sometimes you don't know why the Lord is calling you to read a particular book [I certainly have no idea why I picked John] except for I felt like God wanted me to know the gospel - like a pro! Not sure if I am a professional anything, maybe with God's grace and mercy I am a decent writer but I am not a theologian or bible scholar by any means! But God is good, and he speaks to everyone through his Word, especially those who seek after him with their whole heart (Jeremiah 29-13, You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.) Man, I love that verse. So reassuring and true.

 

After reading John Chapter 9 today, God revealed to me more about his mercy and love through healing a man who was born blind.

Reading through the gospels we see and learn that Christ healed many different people. Through healing, Christ demonstrates his desire to want help us in desperate cases and how Christ pours out his grace on sinners. 

It is so cool to notice that although the blind man in John 9 could not see Christ...Christ saw him. This points to how if we experience anything by the power of God it is not because of anything we did but because God knew us first.

Another thing I want to point out is John 9:2-3. "His {Jesus's} disciples asked him. 'Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?' {Jesus responded} "Neither this man nor his parents sinned...but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him."

God is good all the time and all the time God is good. That quote I pulled from the movie "God's Not Dead" {which I HIGHLY suggest going to see}. But it came to mind after reading John 9: 2-3. We might not understand why God allows blindness into the world or anything of that nature but as Christ points out it's not always right to point back to sin as the culprit. Sometimes circumstances like this one are made for God's glory and for God to finish a bigger work that was meant to be done {or is currently doing} because God is good!

Jesus said, "For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind." John 9:39. Christ wants to open the eyes of all of us who are spiritually dead and show those who think they can see that they need him.

I pray that all of you take a minute or two today to pray and give God all the Glory for your life. I pray that you read John Chapter 9 and allow the holy spirit to work in you and show you new things. I want to leave you all with this verse and I challenge you to think about it throughout the day and see how powerful God truly is...ready? Ok!

"The kingdom of God is within you." Luke 17:21  

Thanks for reading, God bless you all!! Xo - Laura