That Messy First Christmas

That first Christmas was messy. 

•Mary was pregnant before she married. 

•Joseph had to be convinced by an angel to marry her. •They had to travel 94 miles—while Mary was around 9 months pregnant—to pay taxes!

•There was no room for them. 

•They had to stay in a barn. 

•Mary went into labor—in a barn—with no midwife. 

•It was dirty and smelled like animals. 

•They had no bed for Jesus. 

•Dirty shepherds arrived soon after Jesus’ birth. 

It was all messy. 

But…praise God! It reassures me that Jesus will show up in my messy and your messy. He didn’t arrive in a palace making Him inaccessible to you and me. He showed us that we can come to Him just as we are. 

That first Christmas was messy, for sure. But it was also miraculous and filled with wonder. And when Jesus steps into your messy?  You can expect the same.  Jesus came into the messy to rescue you and me. 

Fear vs Fearlessness

If you were Satan, which person would you be more likely to prey upon—the person who is terrified, or the person with determination and fearlessness in their eyes? That’s a no-brainer, isn’t it?

That’s why Paul told us in Philippians 1:28 AMP, “And do not [for a moment] be frightened or intimidated in anything by your opponents and adversaries, for such [constancy and fearlessness] will be a clear sign (proof and seal) to them of [their impending] destruction, but [a sure token and evidence] of your deliverance and salvation, and that from God.”

Don’t be intimidated by Satan, his demons, or the people being used by him. God wants us to trust Him—to be fearless! I know it’s easier said than done. But ask God to deliver you from fear and to build faith through His promises to you. Faith comes by hearing God’s Word—so get in the Word!  Know His promises. Grab hold of those promises and hold them close in your heart and mind. 

Walk fearlessly. Satan will know he’s doomed.  

Headstrong

This morning, I read Ephesians 6:10, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” I looked up the Greek words and to be strong in the Lord means to receive strength from the Lord. But the opposite (it said), is to be headstrong. I know exactly what it means to be headstrong! Demanding my own way, convinced I’m right, or  determined and self-willed. 

We all have a choice…are we going to be strong in the Lord or headstrong? Will we do it God’s way or our way? Will we be kind and filled with the Soirit or self-willed? Will we submit to God or demand our own way—convinced we’re right?

We face that choice every day, don’t we? Just remember…head butting hurts!

We are…

What has happened in your life to make you feel rejected, abandoned, inferior, insecure, unlovable, or unloved? It’s happened to all of us! Satan probably started in childhood to make sure you grew up with a heart full of rejection. 

God wants you to know you are blessed. He loved you before you were born. He CHOSE you! He looked at all of us orphans and said, “I PICK YOU!”  He wants to adopt you and make you His own.

It’s hard to accept that God loves us. It’s hard for us to receive that love—and any good gift He offers. We have a choice. God chooses us…but will we choose Him? And when we do? He adopts us. We’re His. He begins the work of destroying Satan’s lies and taking off the bondage. He inscribes your name on His will—and you become a full inheritor of all that is His!

He wants you to know that you are fully…

•Blessed

•Loved

•Chosen

•Adopted

•Accepted. 

It’s time to agree with Him.