I am a Christian, a retired teacher, a mother and a grandmother. I love to read and I love the Lord Jesus Christ! Unless otherwise specified ,all visual illustrations are from the YOU VERSION APP of the Bible.
Let’s go back to the countryside outside of Bethlehem around two thousand years ago. Shepherd families around campfires, with few scattered among the sheep, when a stranger appears among them—an angel sent from God with good news.
The angel announced the birth of the promised Savior of the world, born in the nearby town of Bethlehem. Then, several angels appeared among the shepherds, singing praises to God.
But why these shepherds? Why not the people in town, the king of Israel, the Emperor in Rome?
Could it be that God has a habit of including shepherds like Abel, Abraham, and David in the story of the Bible and wanted shepherds present at the birth of Jesus?
Or maybe God wanted to highlight how this good news wasn’t just for powerful rulers or religious elites, but it was for all people—from the king, down to lowly shepherds.
Or God might have chosen the shepherds because they were mobile people, well-suited to spreading this joyful message all over the region.
Or it could be that this was the largest group of people around, and the angels wanted a big worship party for the biggest night in human history up to this point.
And could it be that, from day one, God wanted people to recognize Jesus as a good shepherd, kindly guiding His people?
The most likely answer is that it’s for all these reasons and more.
The angelic stranger announces the birth of Jesus and invites the shepherds to meet the newborn King. And when they hear the message, they don’t hesitate. They hurry to the town to meet baby Jesus, then go around town and all over the region telling the story of what they’d seen and heard.
This Christmas, you’ve heard a message of joy. Good news for all people. God hasn’t forgotten us or given up on us. Instead, He loves us and is working all things together for good.
So, how will you respond to this good news?
Hopefully, you follow the shepherds and work to share joy this Christmas. How?
By worshiping God, even if it feels embarrassing or awkward.
By giving good gifts to friends and strangers.
Or by inviting someone to get to know God better through sharing a verse, or inviting them to church.
Joy is a resilient cheerfulness anchored in the goodness of God. And God’s given each of us the opportunity to spread joy wherever we go. So today, we invite you to say yes to God’s invitation and find a way to share the joy of Jesus with the people in your life.
Pause and Pray:
Lord, thank You for Your gift of joy. Please help me to enjoy Christmas as I remember who You are and what You have done. Let my celebration demonstrate Your love and faithfulness to everyone I meet. In Jesus’ name, amen.
My Thoughts
I am going to be honest and tell you all that my joy was nowhere to be found about 3 a.m. today. You see, I got another bladder infection that sent me running to the bathroom every 3-5 minutes, experiencing a lot of pain and losing a lot of blood in the toilet each time. By midnight, I gave in to my sister’s pleas and called an ambulance to pick me up. (Neither of us has a car here.) I got there and was kept until about 9 this morning for them to tell me that I have a bladder infection. The news I did not know is that it could have spread to my kidney (my single kidney) and so they were using strong antibiotics to help me fight it faster and better. Anyway, as I said, about 3 a.m., I was not quite ready to concede that God has a plan for me and even this could be used for His good purpose. Nevertheless, I persisted in saying scripture verses to myself that I had memorized (Psalm 121:7-8 was especially helpful).
Later, as I rode home to my sister’s apartment with Demetrius in a “We Move Taxi”, I got to talk to him some about faith and prayer. If those few minutes were the only reason for my suffering, they were worth it. Coming to the party? Yes, I will be there, rejoicing and praising God for His good plan!
From the YouVersion Bible App Devotional, “Advent, Day 17”
Give Joy, Get Joy
Have you ever gotten a bad Christmas gift? It’s the kind of gift you know you’re going to return before you’ve even finished unwrapping it. Then, if you’re with the gift-giver, you go through the awkward dance of pretending you like the gift without outright lying. Not the most joyful experience, right?
But how about when you get the perfect gift? The thing you didn’t even know you needed in your life. The kind of gift only someone who truly knows you could have given.
Intentional gifts can create joy. Not because they got you a thing but because the gift represents the care, intentionality, and love of the friend who gave it to you.
Now, let’s go one step further. Imagine you’re the one giving the perfect gift for your loved one. How does it feel? Joyful. Because you gave of yourself, and it created joy in others.
Remember, joy is a resilient cheerfulness anchored in the goodness of God. And throughout the Bible, we see a theme of joy leading to giving.
Remember yesterday when we explored David’s joy at regaining the Ark of the Covenant? After dancing through the streets he gave food to everyone present.
After Jerusalem was rebuilt following the exile, a man named Nehemiah encouraged his people to feast and share food with people who had none.
And Jesus, for the joy set before Him, gave His life as a gift to the world.
So why does joy lead to giving gifts? Because if we believe God is good and loves us, then we can be confident He’ll meet our needs today. And if we have what we need today, we’re free to share any extra we might have with others.
When we do, we get to be a source of joy in the lives of others. We also get to imitate Jesus, who spent His life on earth joyfully giving of His time and resources.
Joyful people give, but it also works the other way around. Giving can increase our joy. One of Jesus’ most famous quotes is, “It is better to give than to receive.”
So if you’re searching for joy this holiday season, try finding a way to give. Now you might say, “I’m already terrified to look at my bank statement after Christmas shopping, and I’m supposed to give more?”
Valid question, but remember, you can be generous with or without money.
You might try giving your time by serving at church or in your community. Or you could share extra resources and be a blessing to people in need. You might give your talents by lending advice, encouragement, wisdom, or practical support to your neighbors. Then, you’ll get to experience firsthand the joy-filled blessings of giving to others.
Of course, don’t forget what we said about peace last week. If you feel like you’re already giving all of your time, energy, and resources to others, then you might consider finding ways to pursue rest.
Pause and Pray:
Lord, thank You for the opportunities You give me to have joy in honoring You every day. Please help me to have true joy from serving You. Please help me find ways to be a blessing to others. In Jesus’ name, amen.
My Thoughts
I love the Christmas season because of all it represents and nothing pleases me more than to find the perfect gift for someone special. I am not much for receiving gifts because I feel as though I have all that I need, but I still enjoy the thought and love that goes into each gift I give and each one I receive.
To think that Jesus gave…that is why He came to earth, to give. He gave us a physical representation of the Father’s love for each of us. He gave healings, peace and mercy everywhere He went. And He ultimately gave His life. In that giving, I am certain He found great joy because He was fulfilling the plan of the Father.
We can find joy in giving, too, if we will just take our eyes off the cost of the gifts, the commercialism and think about the receiver and the joy that we are giving in some small way. Give time, talent, and tangible gifts this season. Bless someone as you have been blessed.
From the YouVersion Bible App Devotional, “Advent, Day 16”
Celebrating When It Doesn’t Make Sense
Joy is an attitude, a resilient cheerfulness anchored in the goodness of God. That means joy is hard to contain. When we experience true joy, people tend to notice.
Reminder: When we think of what it means to show joy, we might think of someone who smiles all the time, laughs often, and has a warm personality. While that might be true for some, you don’t need to be as jolly as Santa, or the person whose story we’ll explore today, to experience true joy.
David grew up as a shepherd, but, through a dramatic sequence of events, ended up becoming king. Now, when you think of a king, a certain image probably comes to mind—a strong, dignified, and imposing presence, probably wearing a big crown and flowing robes. But that’s not how David appears in this story.
In this account, David takes off his kingly clothes and dances with enthusiasm in the streets with the ordinary people. Why? Let’s explore some context.
Early in the Bible, God invited His people to follow His way of life. A life centered on loving God and loving others. Part of this invitation came with a promise—God would be present with them no matter what. This was a strange promise because it wasn’t just for the privileged few, but a promise for all people, from the king down to lowly shepherds.
This connection was symbolized by a few items God called gifted craftsmen to create. One of these items, and probably the most famous, was the Ark of the Covenant.
The Ark symbolized God’s powerful, personal presence in the world and reminded God’s people of His compassionate strength. But at certain points in their history, the Ark had been misused.
On one occasion, God’s people thought they could use the Ark to control or manipulate God into meeting their selfish desires—and God wasn’t pleased. He allowed the Ark to be taken from them to a neighboring nation.
How would you have felt to be a part of God’s people at that time? You might wonder if you’d messed up one too many times and disqualified yourself from God’s love.
But God is merciful, kind, and willing to give unlimited second chances. That’s why God eventually returned the Ark to God’s people with a great parade, and David led the way.
So why did David show so much joyful, undignified enthusiasm? Because this wasn’t just some box. It was a reminder that God is good, even when we’re not. So David worshiped God with song, dance, and generosity. Sure, he might have looked a little foolish in front of the people he ruled, but he didn’t seem to care. His joy was too great to let insecurity get in the way of His worship.
When we think of worship, it’s natural to think about songs at church. Singing is certainly one way we worship, but worship is any action we do that reminds ourselves and others of God’s qualities. So we can worship through music, service, prayer, art, or anything else that reflects God’s goodness.
When we experience joy, we can’t help but worship. It overflows from us as we remember who God is, and who we are.
But it can also work the other way around. If we’re feeling low on joy, worship can help us regain our joyful attitude. When we feel alone, apathetic, or broken, worship reminds us of God’s love, promises, and consistent care.
Pause and Pray:
Lord, thank You for Your commitment to being close. Thank You for always giving us another chance when we turn away. Help me to be as faithful to You as You have been to me. In Jesus’ name, amen.
My Thoughts
When I consider all of the second chances God gives me all the time, it is hard not to be in awe of His great love and mercy and to worship Him. I may not be “feeling it” but sometimes I worship in spite of my feelings and the feelings follow. I am grateful every day to worship a God who sincerely cares for me and wants the best for me even when I am determined to have my own stubborn way.
I can’t dance before the Lord as David did, but I am dancing in my heart even as I pondered the verses this morning that go along with the devotional. Only God is worthy of our worship. He gives us joy and we return that joyful worship to Him!
This Christmas, some people are living in the happiest season of their lives, while others are walking through their darkest moments. Neither experience is an indicator of God’s love. But it can sure feel that way sometimes.
One of the first stories in the Bible is about what happens when jealousy steals someone’s joy.
As we explore this story, let’s remember our definition of joy. Joy is a resilient cheerfulness anchored in the goodness of God.
The story centers on two brothers: the shepherd, Abel, and the farmer, Cain. Both brought good gifts to God. God accepts Abel’s gift, but rejects Cain’s. Why? The story itself doesn’t offer many clues.
Cain is visibly shaken. Scripture says his “face falls.” You probably know some of what he felt. Feelings like disappointment, frustration, defeat. But let’s pause and imagine what could have happened if Cain experienced joy instead of jealousy.
He might have felt disappointed, but he would have known that God and Abel were on his side. He would have believed everyone, including himself, had room to grow—allowing him to view setbacks as growth opportunities rather than shameful failures. And he would have been able to celebrate Abel’s success.
But that’s not what happened. Instead, Cain’s experience led him to feel jealous toward Abel, and bitter toward God.
Have you ever felt the same way? You’ve made sacrifices for God, like spending time in Scripture, serving your community, and maybe even giving to your local church, but your life doesn’t seem any different. It can feel frustrating, like God has abandoned you, leading to bitterness.
Then you see the good things God’s doing in the lives of others. Like a friend who made an incredible recovery while you’ve been praying for healing from chronic pain. Or when a young couple posts about their newborn baby while you’ve been on a devastating, decade-long fertility journey with no happy end in sight.
Comparing their experience with yours makes it hard to hold on to joy, and easy to question God’s goodness.
Cain’s jealousy caused him to stop seeing Abel as a brother and start seeing him as an enemy. Eventually, Cain lashed out, killing his brother and trying to hide it from God.
It’s rare that a lack of joy results in physical violence. More often, it leads us to either hide or lash out, hurting people through our words, actions, or distance.
When jealousy and bitterness steal our joy, we’re left drained and empty, trying to take what momentary happiness we can find in a desperate attempt to fill the void. So, how do we stop ourselves from becoming like Cain?
Well, when we feel disappointed or heartbroken, remember that life is full of ups and downs, but God’s goodness and love are constant. He hasn’t forgotten you, you’re not a failure, and He doesn’t hate you.
And when we see friends, family members, or strangers on social media who seem to be living the best days of their lives, we work to keep jealousy at bay. You don’t know the private battles they might be fighting or what challenges they might face in the future. Instead, celebrate alongside them today.
Pause and Pray:
Lord, thank You for always being with me. Please help me to accept Your gift of joy even when I walk through hard times. Help me to know You are with me even when I don’t feel You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
My Thoughts
I added the red emphasis in the devotional above because that is the lesson that stood out to me. God is always good. Life’s road may be bumpy and not what we expected or hoped for, but God does not change. He always loves, always shows mercy and always gives us undeserved grace. When we are tempted to “let our face fall” as Cain did and lash out at others because we are not getting our way in our time frame, then we need to take a step back and recall all of the times that God has blessed us and be thankful that the next blessing is on its way. I have found in my life that the times when I just don’t feel like praising are the times when I really need to praise the Lord. In my simple act of acknowledging God, the peace and joy are restored and I can move on through whatever it is that is trying to steal my joy and come out on the other side content because God has been with me, just as He has always been right there.
From the YouVersion Bible App Devotional “Advent, Day 14”
Joy vs. Happiness
There are many similarities between joy and happiness. They’re both positive, make you smile, and improve your day. But there are also some big differences. So let’s explore the differences between joy and happiness.
Happiness happens to you. When a friend sends words of encouragement, you get the job, or find your lost keys, you feel happy. It’s a response and it feels good. But, like all emotions, happiness fades over time. Joy is different.
In the Bible, joy isn’t an emotion. It’s an attitude. Joy is a resilient cheerfulness anchored in the goodness of God. Think of it like a lens, helping you see your life in a different way. Joy recognizes the pain people experience every day but also remembers God’s kindness, love, and good plans for the world. Then, joy allows these truths to influence how we speak, act, and present ourselves.
So what does joy look like? Well it doesn’t always look like constant smiling and a bubbly personality. Instead, it looks like a perspective informed by the good news of Jesus.
Imagine your best friend has a surprise party later in the day. It’s your job to keep them busy until the celebration kicks off. So while you do ordinary activities with your friend, knowing there’s a party coming changes your attitude.
Knowing good news changes you, so it’s often hard to hide. As followers of Jesus, we know the best news—God loves us despite our flaws and failures and will do whatever it takes to restore every broken, painful, and unjust thing in our world. When we trust this news, joy overflows from our lives into the people around us, no matter what we’re facing.
Today, you’ll get to read a passage written by David, a shepherd who became king. In it, you’ll see he’s experiencing pain and doubt, yet he can also rejoice. Why? Because he trusts God’s love, goodness, and salvation.
But what if you’re not feeling particularly joyful this Christmas? Does it mean God isn’t working in your life? No, definitely not.
But here’s the good news: God wants to help you become a joyful presence in the world around you. In the New Testament, we get a list of qualities God’s Spirit develops in our lives. These are called the fruit of the Spirit, and as you might’ve guessed, one of them is joy. This means that as we pursue closeness with God, God will fill our hearts with joy.
There’s a party coming in the future when God finishes His restorative work, heals every injury, and wipes away every tear. We can embrace lasting joy no matter what we’re going through.
Pause and Pray:
Lord, thank You for Your offer of joy. Please help me choose to accept Your offer. Help me to be thankful and to joyfully celebrate what You have done before and what You are doing now. Teach me to be obedient to You in everything I do. In Jesus’ name, amen.
My Thoughts
The emphasis added above with the color red is mine. God helps us have joy, but I think we have to choose to have an attitude of joy first. I really like the idea of focusing on the celebration that is coming in heaven. That does make it easier to have joy in a world full of turmoil and difficulties.
We can trust that God is good and has a good plan for us, no matter what is currently happening in our lives. I know that I need to focus more on my future with God and less on the daily challenges. It’s when I take my eyes off of God and His love for me that I get overwhelmed. His desire for me is joy, not a feeling of despair. So, during this week when I am visiting my sister, I plan to choose joy and focus on the big celebration that awaits all of us who know Jesus as Savior.
Prayer request: Our grandson Isaac has another scan on Monday to check for cancer again. This time, they are doing a CT with contrast dye. My husband is trying to work out a way to be with Isaac at this time, so please pray that it all works out. That is the day he is taking me to meet my niece who then takes me to NC to see my sister. But God is working things out and I hope and pray it all comes together and Harry can be with Isaac and encourage him. Thank you for your prayers.
Imagine a cold, snowy night, drinking hot chocolate next to a roaring fireplace, surrounded by friends and family. People are laughing, sharing stories, and maybe even singing a Christmas carol. Kids are crowding around the evergreen tree, surrounded by presents wrapped in every shade of red and green with bows of silver and gold.
For hundreds of years, people have gathered to celebrate Jesus’ birth with a few consistent elements: song, food, and gifts. Yes, a red-nosed reindeer got thrown into the mix somewhere along the way. But for the most part, the key ingredients have remained the same.
But why? What’s motivated billions of people throughout hundreds of years to say, “This event is worth celebrating”?
Let’s start two thousand years ago with a group of shepherds in a field. Shepherds were men and women who managed herds of livestock, often traveling along with their families. They had the messy, monotonous, and occasionally dangerous work of moving sheep around the countryside to find food.
We don’t know much about these shepherds, how many there were, or even their names. But it’s easy to imagine a few of them with their children gathered around fires, laughing and telling stories, while those on watch wandered among the sleeping sheep, keeping an eye out for lions, wolves, or thieves.
Then, one of the shepherds noticed a stranger, not in the sky (like in the popular imagination) but in the midst of their camp. The stranger, an angel sent by God, terrified the shepherds because he was glowing brighter than the most well-lit Christmas tree. He gave a simple message: something had happened that would bring great joy to the world!
Of course, you probably know the message, but let’s pretend for a second that you don’t. Let’s imagine what it would be like to be part of those shepherd families thousands of years ago. You’d probably ask yourself a few questions, like, What could bring joy to the whole world?Why bring this message to us shepherds? And what even is joy?
Over the next few days, we’ll explore these questions and more. Together, we’ll see that joy is a resilient cheerfulness anchored in the goodness of God.
Pause and Pray:
Lord, as I seek You and prepare to celebrate the arrival of Jesus, please draw close to me. As I focus on You, please give me Your gift of joy and help me to share it with the people in my life. In Jesus’ name, amen.
My Thoughts
In the busy Christmas season with a lot of different activities and things to get done, I don’t think I pause enough to think about the joy that this season represents. A totally new and different light came into the world, One who brought hope and peace and salvation. God’s plan that He had made since the beginning of creation was manifested in Jesus. The birth of a little baby, not a significant event normally, changed the whole world. So while I may complain at all that I need to get done before Christmas Day, I pray that the joy of the season will be shown clearly on my face and in my words and actions. I want others to feel the joy that I feel, even though sometimes it’s hidden under lots of stress that I bring on myself. I really want to demonstrate what the season is really about, not just with tangible gifts but with the inexpressible and unbelievable joy that comes from knowing a Savior whose birth we celebrate. God is good…all the time!
When we remember the story of Jesus’ birth, it’s easy to focus on the manger, the wise men, and the ornate gifts. We imagine the bright star the wise men followed and the peace, joy, and anticipation they must have felt.
If we’re not careful, we can forget about some of the influential events that were happening at the same time.
Scripture tells us that as the wise men were following the star, they stopped to talk with King Herod. The men asked him, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?” They learned that according to the chief priests and teachers, the promised Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem.
King Herod asked the men to report back with Jesus’ location. After the wise men made it to Jesus, they returned home on a different route because of a dream warning them not to go back to Herod.
Jesus and His family fled to Egypt to seek refuge from the schemes of the king, who had plans to harm Jesus. When the king heard, he was furious and gave orders to kill all the young boys in Bethlehem and the surrounding areas.
During this time, these communities and towns would have likely been scared and overwhelmed. Peace was probably the last thing they were thinking about or experiencing.
This year, the same might be true for you. Peace might feel impossible. Life circumstances, world events, grief, and relational tensions can all take the front seat. If this season is difficult for you, or if peace feels out of reach, remember you’re not alone.
Through Jesus, we have true peace—a state of wholeness, calm, and renewal between God and His people. At the time of His birth, people were expecting the Savior of the world to be a fierce warrior who would use violence to bring justice and rescue God’s people.
While Jesus brought about justice and rescue, it was through love and compassion. And instead of being a source of violence, He allowed Himself to be crucified on a cross to save us from our sin. He received all of the hate and pain the world had to offer. With His resurrection, the power of violence, hatred, and division suffered a fatal blow.
Jesus’ life brought us peace that only God can give, and He shares it with us. In John 14:27 NIV, Jesus says:
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
The peace Jesus gives us isn’t fake or fabricated. It’s not ignoring the problems around us. And it isn’t disengaging with people who might irritate you.
The peace Jesus gives us is a true gift that brings us closer to people around us. It steadies our racing minds, it calms our inner turmoil, and it reminds us who is in control. When we fix our eyes on Jesus, remembering that He is in control this holiday season—and always—we experience the deep peace He promises to provide.
Pause and Pray
Gracious Father, thank You for bringing Your Son to earth all those years ago as a way to make peace between one another and with You. Please help me to be a peacemaker who reflects Your patience, kindness, and compassion to everyone I meet. I want to be someone who brings a sense of wholeness, calm, and renewal to every situation and relationship in my life. In Jesus’ name, amen.
My Thoughts
I really need some peace today! It’s not that my day is going badly but that I am anxious about a visit to my sister next week. In fact, I got good news from my nephrologist this morning. For the first time in several years, my kidney function improved…only slightly, but I will take it!
Now, about my visit. My sister is a diehard Democrat, and for her anyone who voted for Trump is a traitor to the nation and to her personally. She has decreed that after the inauguration, if President Trump does as he says and goes against all she believes (like transgender surgeries and abortions and all of the other liberal hoo-hah), then she will no longer have anything to do with any of us who voted for him. That seems a little radical, right? And not exactly a peaceful move. Nevertheless, I hope to use my visit to practice being a peacemaker. I never argue with her about her views when she lectures me about why she is right. I just sit silently. I hope that the topics don’t come up, but she usually brings them up when we are eating together. So, this year, I hope to use scripture to explain why I feel the way I do and voted the way I did instead of giving her a silent pass. I want her to know that I love her but Jesus is the only way to peace, no matter who is in the Oval Office. He is in control, even in the tumultuous times of liberal media overload about how bad the next four years will be. That’s my plan and I pray it will works out. I leave on Monday and return on the Saturday before Christmas. Prayers appreciated, my friends. And one more praise for a good kidney report! Thank you, Lord, for that unexpected surprise!
Throughout the Bible, we see examples of peace being a state of wholeness, calm, and renewal between God and His people. In the different stories from the last few days, we might notice that peace isn’t a one-and-done experience. Instead, it’s an ongoing process that ultimately brings us closer to God.
People in Scripture lived in the tension of receiving God’s peace each day, while also finding ways to share His peace with the people around them.
Yesterday, we read Matthew 5:9 NIV, when Jesus said:
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”
Notice it says “peacemaker”—not “peacekeeper.” Peacemaking is an active process where we all have a role to play. It doesn’t mean we go along with every opinion that gets thrown out around the dinner table. It also doesn’t mean we have to agree with everything our friends and family believe. Those actions may avoid conflict, but they don’t make peace.
It’s also tempting to ignore conflict or pretend it’s not there. But Romans 12:9 reminds us that love must be sincere. If we hide our hurt feelings, we’re not bringing peace—we’re avoiding the process of making peace.
So how can we bring peace to our relationships with God and others?
1. We recognize we already belong.
On Day 8, we learned we have the gift of peace because we belong to God’s family. This peace can’t be taken from us because of who gave it to us. Still, there will be moments, circumstances, and seasons in our lives where it might be more difficult to find peace.
It might be in an unexpected diagnosis, a long-running relational tension, or when it feels like those around us are far from God. In these moments, we can choose to trust and believe that God is working in our lives and the lives of those we care about. And we can take these concerns and worries to our heavenly Father, believing that He will replace our anxious thoughts with His perfect peace.
2. We acknowledge reality.
Sometimes when we feel a lack of peace, it’s because we’re struggling with how we wish things around us were different. In order to experience the state of wholeness, calm, and renewal that God’s peace promises us, we must acknowledge where we are right now. When we do, we can better identify steps to make peace around us.
3. We share what we have.
Not only is peace a gift we receive from God, it’s a gift we share with those around us. We have confidence in what we know is true of God—His faithfulness, kindness, patience, and more. And we choose to share this goodness with our friends, family, coworkers, and community. It starts small, like choosing to listen with empathy and curiosity, praying for those you disagree with, and taking a step to reflect God’s character to others.
When we practice peace in these ways, we’ll be able to see the wholeness, calm, and renewal that God wants for each of us.
My Thoughts
When I think of peace being ongoing and having to work at it, that seems like a dichotomy to me. Shouldn’t peace just rain down from heaven and fill each of us? Well, maybe, but my experience has not shown that to be true. As the devotional points out, there are actions we can take to help make peace a reality in our lives daily, not just for ourselves but for those around us, too.
I have a family member who is very contentious and hard for me to live at peace with. When I visit, I have to hold my tongue, keep my opinions to myself and hope that she doesn’t explode from something I say or do. I confess that I have been avoiding the process of making peace, as the devotional points out. It is up to me to love sincerely by sharing the truth, even if she doesn’t want to hear it and it’s hard for me to share. With the reality of God’s peace and knowing that I am accepted by Him, I think I can do it. At least, I plan to try.
From the YouVersion Bible App Devotional, “An Unexpected Christmas”
Day 2: The Unplanned
You may be familiar with the next portion of the story. You’ve likely heard of the virgin Mary. It’s tempting to consider her as just another character in a story. But consider for a moment the real Mary.
She was a teenager. She didn’t have an iPhone. She wasn’t studying for her SAT or considering her choice of colleges. As a first-century Jewish girl, she knew what the future would hold for her. She’d soon marry a nice guy from the village and raise a family. Within this context, the story of the first Christmas continues.
In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.” “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.(Luke 1:26–38)
This was not part of Mary’s plan. Can you imagine Mary as a teenager grasping the weight of this conversation? First, an angel appeared to her. She had to wonder, Did that really just happen?Then she had to face the reality of what this news would mean for her. She had to consider, What will Joseph think? Then, What will my parents say?
Despite uncertainty or fear, Mary responded that she was willing to do whatever the Lord asked of her. She showed her willingness to trust God even when it cost her something. With her words, Mary displayed her heart to serve God and not herself.
Mary would have never written this plan for herself. But it was part of God’s plan. It was part of a great story God was revealing… in histiming and in his way.
This past year has had unplanned moments for all of us. For some of us, the unplanned moments were inconveniences. For others, this unplanned season has left us hurting, grieving, or concerned for our future.
An angel may not appear to you this Christmas season. But, as followers of Jesus, we will all be faced with a choice similar to Mary’s. How will we choose to respond to the unplanned?
As Christmas approaches, are we trusting in something or in someone? What could it look like for you to trust God in a deeper way this season?
My Thoughts
I don’t think I have ever considered Mary to have just been living her life as a young Jewish teen when Gabriel appeared to her. But, after reading it in the devotional, it makes sense to me. God calls the unlikely to do the unexpected in order to carry out His plan and then He equips them to do what He has called them to do.
I don’t know about you, but I generally get frustrated when I make a plan and then have to change it because of unseen circumstances. Honestly, I used to tell God how upset I was with Him that I had to change my plans when I thought He could have done something to help me carry them out. God has had to deal with me and my rigor for years, so I know He is used to it, but He has also been helping me to be more flexible, to expect changes. I don’t like them, but when they happen (as they usually do), I don’t fall apart because of it. I am getting better at “rolling with the punches” that life hands out and then praying and moving on. I am amazed that young Mary was able to accept the proclamation right away and told God that she was His willing servant. That shows me that God chose her for a reason! Perhaps He had already prepared her heart or He knew how much she already loved Him. I am not there yet, and may never be, but I aspire to be like Mary and just say, “Okay, God. Let’s do things your way; I’m getting out of the way so it can happen the way you plan.” Instead, I try to help God make the plan and He doesn’t need my help at all. In fact, I have never had God ask me for input into His plan. It’s His plan that we are supposed to all be working toward fulfilling and if a few glitches in our lives cause us to get off track, I am confident that in His grace and mercy, God will get us back on track instead of giving up on us.
From the YouVersion Bible App, “An Unexpected Christmas”, “Corrie ten Boom’s Christmas Memories” and “Advent, 25-Day Countdown, Day 9”
Day 1: The Forgotten
The story starts with a couple, but it’s not the couple you might think. There is an often forgotten couple that played a key role in the unveiling of the Christmas story. Their names were Zechariah and Elizabeth. They were the type of couple that did all the right things… they honored God and kept his laws. At this point in their lives, they had been married many years and were quite old, but they had no children.
In the Jewish culture, children were a sign of God’s blessing. Children ensured that beliefs were passed on to future generations. Zechariah and Elizabeth had undoubtedly attended celebrations where they had watched their friends experience the joy of seeing their children learn stories of God’s faithfulness to their ancestors. But this couple had no children of their own to pass down their faith to.
The backdrop of the first Christmas story begins with Zechariah at work in his job as a priest.
Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside. Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” (Luke 1:8–15; 18)
Over the many years of longing for a child, Zechariah would likely have wondered if his prayers were heard. Did God not see him? Did God not hear his heartfelt, desperate requests? For years, in the midst of a continual unanswered prayer, he served God and waited. When he was an old man, he learned that his prayer had been answered, but it seemed impossible to believe. Little did he know that his long-awaited son, John, would be a cousin to Jesus and would one day prepare the way for Jesus’s ministry.
My Thoughts
I am spending some time today pondering about who in my group of friends and acquaintances might be feeling forgotten during this season. I can already think of a couple of names of people whom I need to reach out to and remind them that they are loved are cherished by me and, more importantly, by God.
Christmas in Corrie’s childhood
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace”. – Isaiah 9:6
When Corrie is 84 years old she recalls the sweet memories of the Christmases of her childhood. She shares that the Christmas Joy was not about a short and transient gladness that disappeared as soon as the chilly January month made his entrance to finish the Christmas season. But it was, and is about an everlasting joy unspeakable and full of glory.
Yes, there were the sweet childhood memories of her mother and aunt who both had a gift to make Christmas as colourful and happy as possible. She remembered the holly and the mistletoe, sometimes even a little Christmas tree, the Christmas table with the red ribbons, where the family gathered, enjoying the hot chocolate and the Christmas bread with powdered sugar. They all walked to the Sint Bavo Cathedral for the church service and sang “O holy Night” and “Oh Come All Ye Faithful” and the sound of the world-famous organ filled the church. All expressions of an everlasting and unspeakable glorious joy.
But first and foremost they celebrated that the words of the prophet Isaiah were fulfilled, that night in Bethlehem 2000 years ago: “God so loved the world and sent His Son that whosoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). They knew He is the “Wonderful Counsellor”, He is God, He has brought peace in the midst of circumstances. And one day He, will come back and reign forever. And it is the passionate commitment of the Lord Himself that guaranteed this.
That was what Christmas in the ten Boom family was all about. They wanted to serve this King with all their heart, mind and strength. And they wanted to share this Christmas Joy with as many people as possible, because they knew that the Lord Jesus had said: “Come to me all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
To reflect
Let us celebrate Christmas, knowing that it is all about an Everlasting Joy, because God so loved the world that he sent His only Son that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but will have eternal life. He is our Lord and King today!
My Thoughts
I am thankful for all that Jesus means to me and His names in Isaiah all point out His promises to us. He is our counselor, our God, our Father and our peace. He was given to each of us so that we may have a relationship with the Father.
Yesterday, we looked at the peace that comes from being in God’s family. When we know whose family we belong to, we can experience a peace that the world can’t take away.
During this time of the year, you’re probably feeling pulled in endless directions—Christmas parties, classroom celebrations, family traditions, and the pressure to find the perfect gifts are just a few that might come to mind.
Peace is a state of wholeness, calm, and renewal between us, God, and others. But if we’re not careful, we can miss the opportunity to truly experience peace because we’re so distracted by our calendars and commitments, even if they’re filled with good things.
Under completely different circumstances thousands of years ago, God gave His people the Ten Commandments. He was talking to a group of people who had been in slavery for over 400 years, and had come to believe that their value was tied to the number of bricks they could produce in any given day or week.
And while that belief was likely deeply ingrained in the way they viewed themselves, God offered them a better option. He gave them a series of laws to establish peaceful and harmonious relationships among their communities, and in their own personal relationships with God.
One of these commands includes taking a full day of rest called the Sabbath. In the New Testament, Jesus reiterates the importance of the Sabbath by reminding people that it wasn’t created so we would have another chore to do, but so we would have time to worship God and enjoy the good things He has given us—like a meal with friends and family, or relaxing and appreciating life.
While a full day of rest might feel impossible right now, you can still find ways to start small. You might choose to listen to worship music on your morning commute, or spend an extra five minutes after you read the Bible to sit in God’s presence and ask Him questions about what you learned.
Instead of getting on your phone when your alarm goes off, you could choose a slower start to your day before scrolling social media.
When we take a day of rest (or even an intentional 15-minute pause to our day), we admit we can’t get everything we need on our own. God gives peace through work and rest. We need both. Peace is His gift, but we must choose to accept it and trust that God will give us everything we need for today.
My Thoughts
If you are still reading this, then I thank you. You can find all of these devotionals and read them yourselves on the YouVersion Bible App. I am excited about Christmas this year, not for the gifts because my husband and I don’t buy much for each other, and not for the family time, because that will be short with one son and his family coming for a day. But I am excited because it is a time for me to reflect on my relationship with God and how I have grown closer to Him this year.
One of the things we have been challenged to do in our class at church is to spend some time in solitude before the Lord. I feel as though I do that daily with my quiet devotional time, while my husband still sleeps and there are no ambient noises. But I realized yesterday during our lesson that I talk to God during that time, but I am not sitting quietly to rest in Him and to listen to what He speaks to my heart. So, I have a new commitment to just sit quietly and listen. My Sabbath rest comes when I spend time with God, quietly. That is what I long for this holiday season.
Vickie's Book Nook and Meditation Corner 