Immanuel

 

Immanuel

 

Many years before Jesus birth, God promised a sign to reveal the fact that He would be making a personal appearance. At that time prophets and priests were the only ones who communicated directly with God. Isaiah was one of those prophets and he received the news that Immanuel was coming and there would be a sign to announce His coming – and let’s just say it  was unexpected!  Isaiah 7:14(AMP) tells us: “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Listen carefully, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and she will call his name Immanuel (God with us).” The ancients must have been puzzled at the sign recalling previous signs given by God. Hope and fear must have been stirred at the thought of God being with them.

When I ponder the truth of God with us, I know that it was not just for the time of his life on earth. Rather His name is eternal, Immanuel, forever. His presence is ever with us. The Holy One in the triune person of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. For me, reflecting on His being with us at all times and in all ways brings comfort, peace, and joy knowing His love and care are close at hand. May this bring clear hope as you consider Immanuel, God with us.

By: Joy Pedersen

Matthew 1:23(AMP) “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and give birth to a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel”—which, when translated, means, “God with us.”

The Christ of Christmas

 

The Christ of Christmas

 

Singing the old hymns of Christmas is one of the favorite things of this season. They tell the story of Christ the Messiah, Jesus, birth and the miracle of how He came to earth. Reading Matthey 1 reveals the fact that Mary was miraculously impregnated by God himself by His Holy Spirit! This virgin mother willingly bore this child full term, with no clear understanding of what was ahead. God used a human to deliver Jesus as human. Amazing!

When I think of this plan devised to open the world to salvation, God’s love for mankind shatters pride and causes me to sing the messages of truth and blessing. With awe. How grateful I am for God and His love that humbly came to earth to make a needed salvation for mankind. How grateful I am for the willingness of Mary to parent Jesus (along with Joseph) here on earth. The Christ of Christmas is worthy of our praise..

By: Joy Pedersen

Matthew 1:18 (ESV)

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.

A Walk through Christmas

A Walk through Christmas

The hustle and bustle of this season can be split between great delight and difficult demands. The shopping, the parties, the church activities, people, and decorating vie for our time and energy. The joy of this season is best found when we take time to pause and reflect on Jesus through Scripture, prayer, fellowship, and music. 

Matthew 11:28–29(AMP) “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavily burdened [by religious rituals that provide no peace], and I will give you rest [refreshing your souls with salvation]. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me [following Me as My disciple], for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest (renewal, blessed quiet) for your souls.”

By: Joy Pedersen

Celebrating Jesus

Celebrating Jesus

Though we celebrate the birth of Jesus at Christmas, He has always existed – just not in human form. John wrote a book in the Bible to let us know who Jesus was from the beginning to the end of time on earth. This book helps us understand the character and heart of God through Jesus.

John reveals Jesus as the Word, Logos, who was with God and was God. So the first thing we find out about Jesus was not his birth but his eternal existence. As we enter this Christmas season, we are celebrating an eternal God in his humble state as a man. He revealed Himself and lived His life in a broken world so that we can experience His image – which we are made in.

Imagine! He lived what is taught throughout scripture, died the death of a martyr, and was resurrected. In many ways Christmas is a celebration of the wonderful mysterious gift of eternal life. He has made spiritual life possible for those who accept Him and they (we) will be with Him eternally.

John 1:1-3(ESV) “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made”.

By: Joy Pedersen

Be Thankful

Be Thankful

The Thanksgiving holiday season is close at hand. Historically we have been told the first one was celebrated with the American Indians and sojourning Pilgrims who were thankful for a bountiful harvest. This came after a hard year for those from England on the Mayflower.  Seeking a newfound freedom, the passengers of the ship lived - and many died from disease, hunger, and cold weather – waiting to find sanctuary.

Beginning in 1827 Sarah Josepha Hale campaigned for 36 years to establish a national holiday for Thanksgiving and it was declared in 1863. She became the Mother of Thanksgiving when Abraham Lincoln conceded to make it a holiday here in the United States. At the height of the Civil War, he wrote a letter of proclamation asking everyone to pray to God “to commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners and sufferers in the lamentable civil strife and to heal the wounds of the nation.” (Sounds like something Jesus said!)

1 Thessalonians 5:18(AMP) goes even further in a letter: “In every situation [no matter what the circumstances] be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.”

Interestingly enough, Lincoln did not proclaim thanks in the situation they were in. Romans 5 declares the purpose of suffering. Reminding us that there is purpose in the previous suffering in our lives. So much to be thankful for in the time of distress that comes in opposition to Christ. He provides inner strength, confidence in His presence, peace in the middle of the storm, salvation in Christ Jesus that gives us hope for all eternity and promised compassion and care.

We are each called to give thanks even when the difficulties of life seem too much to bare.  What have you suffered and yet give thanks to God this season?

WORKING WITH JESUS

 

WORKING WITH JESUS

 

“But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on
wings like eagles. The will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not
faint.” (NLT)

This sounds so simple, and it is simple but not easy. In fact, this is so simple I think we have a difficult time doing it. We can just let God take care of ‘it’. Not just the big things but the little challenges also. We may think we will take care of the little problems and God will take care of the big ones.

Where does scripture tell us to do that? We may think, “Well, this is a small thing, so I can do this. God is busy taking care of more important things.” Sound familiar? I know I have had these thoughts at times.

What would happen if we let God in on all our challenges and choices? Do you think he would ignore the “small stuff”? Would He tell us we need to handle them? Are they really ours to deal with on our own? Do we really think we can solve things better than God can?

Jesus tells us, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

This scripture says, to me, that we are to be yoked – connected with and submitted to Jesus and His care, at all times. He has the strength, wisdom, and compassion to carry our every concern. So, big or small, we are to link with him. We are to work with him, not deal with it on our own.

What do you think will happen in our lives if we do this?

BY: Sally Samarin

Trust and Obey

Trust and Obey

Ecclesiastes is a book in the Bible that I wasn’t fond of until I went through a traumatic period in my life.  The Lord led me to this very place to find comfort and guidance. I felt the Holy Spirit led me to read its entirety.

Solomon described life as being vanity (emptiness or futility), and it resonated with me. At that moment, I wanted to understand the reason for what was happening, would God rescue me from the circumstances, and what was I to do. Trudging through the chapters, I realized that I would never be able to justify, simplify, or identify the situation’s purpose or my need to control things.

This whole book points out that what happens in life doesn’t always seem fair to us. In spite of all that we have experienced through hardships and lose we have and will face if we want to keep our joy, it is important to focus on the Lord for help and direction.

Now as I am aging, I see that some things get better and others much more difficult. Searching for the meaning of difficult issues only stirs discomfort. In chapter 12 there is a reckoning with where I am now. These are things I am beginning to experience what most of us will come to eventually:

·        It is harder to maintain a household when we experience physical limitations.

·        Our teeth are weakened or filled in with implants, etc.

·        Our eyes are not as strong as they once were.

·        Sleep is not always as good as it once was so that even the song of a bird wakens us.

·        We move slower – like a grasshopper dragging along the way.

·        We sometimes lose our desire to be here on this earth any longer and eagerly await heaven as our home.

·        And as we assess our lives it may seem as though nothing has much meaning in this world. 

             When I came to Ecclesiastes 12:13, at my original read, I was pulled up short of my self-pity and grumbling thoughts of life being over! Instead, the words on the page almost jumped off the page:

“Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of all mankind.”

Rather like Job’s message, I felt the Holy Spirit was telling me:

 “You might not like life this way. It may not make sense to you, but it does to Me.  So here is what you need to do, don’t try to understand it all. Just accept where you are.  Trust Me and honor me with your obedience. It is all I ask of you. I love you, and I am with you through all your experiences.”

It is easy to get caught up in our limitations, but no matter where we are in life, we are to maintain our focus upward - on God.  My relationship with and response to God is richer because of this message. He knows and holds me tenderly through all of life. I am confident that He lovingly does this for all of His children.

May your walk with the Lord be enriched because you love, trust, honor, and obey the God who is, was, and will ever be.

By: Joy Pedersen