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2015-12-31 11:56
 (Photo Credit: llaria Luciani (Flicker.com) Used under the Creative Commons License.) |
parties, presents, and people crowd out the reason for the season...… celebrating the birth of our LORD
Holiday celebrations sometimes cause us to be too busy for quiet time with God, and so after Christmas; we may begin to feel empty and depressed?
If you’re like most people, something at your holiday get together went wrong.
Someone said something mean or critical...
A dish was broken or you burned the ham.
Maybe the gifts you bought were the wrong size... or the expensive toys you got for your kids didn’t work; because you forgot to buy the right batteries or charger.
You may have bought a hover board and ended up in the ER, or your smart phone makes you feel really stupid, because you don’t know how to work it.
Perhaps, you were alone for Christmas, and no one even bothered to call or check in on you...
Whatever happened... Forgive those who hurt you, Forgive yourself, and Let go of what lies behind.
You can’t change the past... but God can change your future into something positive and productive... if you let him.
As we prepare for the New Year, it is important to make time to worship God and ask what his plan is for you in 2016.
Many times in the scriptures, God spoke to and warned his people with visions.
The Bible is God's instruction book for life. Much like a person would take a treasure map and search for buried treasure... we should have a deep desire to increase our knowledge and grow in wisdom each year.
If we do, it helps us prepare for both the good times and also seasons of sadness or suffering.
God says in Proverbs 29:18…
Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keeps the law, happy is he.
Happiness comes from obeying God, even when it means inconvenience, hardship, or rejection from people.
As the wise men were searching for the blessed Christ child, God sent a star to lead them.
When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. Matthew 2:10
They were wise, because they laid down their plans and followed where God led them.
When they found Jesus, they were overjoyed and bowed down to worship him and gave treasures from their heart.
They weren’’t too proud to get down on their knees and worship a child in a dirty, smelly barn.
These men sacrificially denied themselves and offered their lives and gifts as a thank offering.
Their obedience helped Mary and Joseph in their financial crisis, so they could flee to Egypt to protect their son’’s life.
God divinely warned the wise men in a dream, not to obey Herod, but return to their own country, by another route.
An angel of the LORD instructed Joseph to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt at night, to keep them safe from harm.
What if they’’d said, God we’’re tired and we don’’t feel like moving right now.…... maybe next week.
Their prompt obedience was vital to protect the life of their son.
When Herod heard he was mocked by the wise men, he became very angry and ordered all the children in Bethlehem and the surrounding coasts to be killed, from 2 years old and under.
This was to fulfill the prophesy in Jeremiah 31:15…
In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not. Matthew 2:18-19
What pain must have pierced the hearts of those families who lost their children.
Herod was a ruthless dictator who also murdered his wife, 3 sons, mother-in-law, brother-in-law, uncle, and many others during his reign.
After Herod’’s death, an angel of the LORD appeared to Joseph in a dream, telling him it was safe to return. He took Jesus and Mary to the land of Israel, but when he heard that Archelaus reigned in Judaea, in place of his father Herod, he would not go farther, but turned to parts of Galilee.
They eventually returned to Nazareth; so the prophesy could be fulfilled… He shall be called a Nazarene. (Matthew 2:23)
As we prepare our hearts for the New Year, let’s ask God for a fresh vision and an excited enthusiasm for the bright future he can bring to us and our family... if we only ask and are willing to receive it.
Give him your sadness, fear, depression, and unforgiveness, trusting he will bless you with beauty for those ashes of the past.
Don’t give up; Look up... to the only one who can change your life and future.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Jeremiah 29:11
May you have a blessed, prosperous, healthy, and happy New Year!
With God, all things are possible!
Valerie Rousseau
